"No, I think enough are available," Portegin said blithely unaware of the consternation on the faces of both Kai and Varian.

"Kai," and Lunzie turned almost brusquely from the technician, "how clearly do you recall the deposits of ore we'd already found?"

"Very clearly," Kai said in a tone that he hoped Lunzie would interpret.

"Excellent. When I go back to the shuttle, I'll run fiber through the synthesizer for writing material. Trizein never forgets anything he's analyzed, so he can rewrite his notes."

"Terilla could repeat those exquisite drawings of hers, "Varian said.

"Children do not adapt well to the trauma of elapsed time," said Lunzie in a cool voice. "It's hard enough on adults to realize that most of their friends, and probably all their immediate family are aged or dead." The silence that greeted her remark caused her to glance at each of their faces. Her expression was kinder as she went on. "It's hard enough for us, but at least we have a task to which we can devote our energies." She paused again, looking about her. "I think we'd best get some sleep now. We've a lot to begin tomorrow."

Chapter EIGHT

About halfway through that restless night, Varian realized that with the possible exception of Lunzie, no one was finding sleep easy. She was divided between the desire to talk out the day's puzzles and the privacy of the night in which to sort out her muddled reactions.

The revelation that Lunzie had so subtly overlaid her consciousness with that of Rianav distressed Varian. Not because she minded assuming an alter ego but because, as Rianav, her reactions to the mutineers' descendants, and even toward Tanegli, had been sympathetic rather than vengeful. As Varian, she ought not to have any compassion for the man, considering that he and his fellows had robbed her of forty-three years of the companionship of her friends and relatives. Not to mention the minor fact that the mutiny had probably placed Varian's advancement in the Service in jeopardy. And the Service now constituted Varian's anchor. Her parents could be dead. Her brother and two sisters, all her friends, would be entering their seventh or eighth decades and their thoughts would be turned to whatever retirement activity they had earned during their productive years. They would hardly be likely to welcome a youthful Varian.

How many times had this experience happened to Lunzie? The question popped unexpectedly into Varian's drowsing mind and shook her out of the brief spate of self pity. Lunzie had subtly altered since Varian awakened her. Or perhaps, Varian, immersed in her xenobiology, had simply failed to take a proper measure of the medic. Lunzie had kept pretty much to herself and her duties before the mutiny. Lunzie's Service profile had indicated nothing unusual. Nor was it unusual for a medic to be Disciplined. Lunzie's posting to their expedition had all the elements of coincidence... but was it? Since she had revealed herself Adept, and showed a great deal of knowledge about the phenomenology of shipwreck, salvage legalities, and improper colonial takeovers. Had Lunzie been shipwrecked before?

Varian sighed, unable to correlate the nagging inconsistencies. She was deeply sorry for Kai. She'd seen his hands shaking and the occasional body spasms that everyone pretended not to notice. Would he regain his sense of touch? And lose those disfiguring white patches from the fringe punctures? She wanted him whole, his old self, her friend and lover, as antidote to the attraction she felt for Aygar.

What were the fringes, for Krims' sake? Aygar said they were warmth seekers. But she and Triv had unearthed the sleds and not been attacked. Warmth? The Thek, Tor, would have radiated more warmth than forty humans while it was plowing back and forth across the old compound in search of the buried core. Tor, the family friend, had attracted the fringe, and left Kai to its embrace.

Varian thought that Lunzie was right not to rouse the children. Poor kids. And yet, they might still have living parents delighted to see them alive, even if their childhood friends would all now be in their middle decades. Wait a moment! Lunzie must be wrong. Children tended to adapt easily. Was Lunzie protecting the children for her own obscure reason? Varian could think of none and Terilla would be an asset with her exquisite drawing. Bonnard had already proved his initiative and resourcefulness. However, Varian approved that Aulia would remain in cold sleep. No one had time to deal with hysterical temperament.

Varian told herself to stop running on in her mind and get some sleep. She was tired enough, wasn't she? And tomorrow would be stressful in other ways. Now, how could she make up for forty-three-years gap in her xenobiological research? Some place in the middle of plotting her attempt, Varian drifted off to sleep.

Kai eased himself as quietly as possible into various positions but he couldn't achieve lasting comfort or sleep. Insomnia was a new sensation; he seemed to have spent most of his days lately either deeply asleep or drowsing.

Kai had not previously thought much of his personal appearance, or his body, which had been healthy as long as he could remember. But then, on a compound ship, one under went periodical physicals as preventive measures. The ARCT-10's medical department had diagnostic data from every system known to the FSP and could synthesize the rarest medicines and vaccines; ill health was quickly remedied. Varian might not want contact with the Ryxi but if Lunzie was correct and the Ryxi had employed human mercenaries as ship crews, the crew members probably had access to treatment. Somewhere in the Federated Sentient Planets, a remedy for his condition could be found. Well, he could do nothing about it just then. He moved again, slowly, trying to make as little sound as possible though it occurred to him that sleepers normally move frequently and everyone else seemed motionless. Were they all awake with troublesome thoughts? And which thoughts?

He'd bet anything that Varian was worried about the Ryxi coming to Ireta and "investigating" her giffs. He could understand that in her. What he found harder to comprehend was her attitude towards the mutineers' descendants. Descendants? Survivors? Precolonists? Of course, that could just be a matter of shaking off the personality Lunzie had created as a protection for the ruse. But Varian was planet-bred and so she might sympathize with any successful implantation whereas he, ship-bred, had a more universal view. Or did he? Was he merely biased in another direction?

Kai had noticed that Triv, too, seemed ambivalent to the industrious settlers. Had it not been for the solidarity of the team behind Lunzie's suggestions to continue the geological and xenobiological surveys, Kai would have serious doubts about their loyalties.

Odd, too, that not one of them had mentioned the ARCT-10 or expressed concern over the fate of its huge complement of sentient beings. Kai suppressed resentment. The ARCT-10 had been his home but Triv, Portegin, Lunzie, and Varian were all contract specialists, gleaned from other star systems. The ship-bred of his detachment had been Gaber, now dead, Aulia, himself, and the three children, Terilla, Cleiti, and Bonnard. He was the only one awake who considered the ARCT-10 home, so he ought not to fault his team mates.

What had happened to the ARCT-10? To the best of Kai's recollection, no compound ship of her size had ever been destroyed. Units had been shattered or pierced, with loss of life, but an entire compound ship? The size of a small satellite? Kai really didn't care what happened to the heavyworlders and their bid for Ireta. He would like to see even old Tanegli tried for mutiny. But other rich worlds lay ready for FSP to exploit — so long as his set of survivors profited. But he did want to know what had delayed the ARCT-10, where she'd been, what she'd done, why wasn't she here, if only to heal his distressing condition. He drifted off to sleep finally, trying to rationalize the nonappearance of his ship.

Triv lulled himself to sleep by repeating the coordinates of the finds made by the teams until he was sure he had the figures correct. At first, he had been annoyed to think that he'd be done out of the bonuses he'd anticipated from the expedition. He was much cheered to realize that something could be rescued to pay for lost time. Of course, his credit balances would have appreciated during cold sleep. As long as his where abouts were uncertain, no credit organization could disperse his holdings. He amused himself by calculating the current balance at forty-three years' accumulated and compound interest. Having made few personal ties anywhere, Triv was not especially bothered by the elapsed decades. So long as his monies appreciated with interest, and he collected a just percentage of the wealth that was obviously to be mined on Ireta, he was satisfied.

He heard a soft scraping noise and turned his head slightly. Kai again. He experienced a fleeting sympathy for the man that only proved to Triv how right he was to avoid attachments of any kind. Pretty soon now, if the Iretan prospects lived up to his expectations and he could live off the interest of his credit balance, he'd find himself one of the less frequented planets, a soft leisurely world. He'd link up with some obliging person to attend his physical needs and then he'd do whatever he fancied, when he fancied it. Meanwhile, a geologist with his ratings, a Disciple as well, never lacked assignments.

Although Portegin was some what relieved that Aulia was not going to be awakened, it irritated him, too. He knew her faults but they worked well as a team and they got on even better as a pairing. He was beginning to miss her now he was fully revived from the cold sleep. Then he brightened at a second thought: Aulia would be much more likely to contract with him since they were contemporaries. She'd really have difficulty forming a new relationship among those her subjective age.

Portegin was still irked by Lunzie's manipulations. He'd never said she could tinker with his mind, no matter if she had Kai's and Varian's consent. He was aware that Adepts never misused their abilities, which was why so few were allowed to attain that rank, but her interference rankled. In fact, the only good to come out of the day had been the assurance that they wouldn't lose out on mineral and ore bonuses. He wondered if Kai and Varian would go for stretching their subjective time a little, say, back three or four years; one got only subsistence rate for being asleep on an assignment, no matter the reason. He wished Kai would get settled, even though the man was trying to be considerate, moving slowly. Too considerate, because his slow deliberate attempts to cut down noise made the process longer. Lunzie hadn't so much as stirred since she lay down.

Portegin had to admire the medic. Not for a single moment had he suspected her of being more than just a healer. He drifted into unconsciousness while calculating possible totals to his bonuses.

Lunzie didn't move because her mind had commanded her body to relax while she reviewed the day's achievements: satisfactory on many counts — though Varian's obvious attraction to the settler, Aygar, might become a problem. Distract Varian with the giffs, put her on her professional mettle to protect that species. Lunzie actually shared the girl's reluctance to have the Ryxi learn over-much about the golden fliers. A most remarkable species, those giffs. It would be very interesting to discover how they, and immense herbivores and grotesque predators of Mesozoic Terra, got to Ireta. All too pat, this planet so perfect for the continuation of a totally useless series of beings. The planet was rife with anomalies. Puzzles pleased Lunzie, especially if she solved them in advance of anyone else. This assignment was generating more riddles than she had ever encountered before. A routine assignment, huh? She ran through her probabilities again and decided that she had a better than average chance of pulling a hat trick. Then she chuckled silently at her unconscious use of such an anachronism. Space helmet trick? Well, she oughtn't to be greedy: that led to overconfidence, a state of mind which imperiled more than it aided. Two successes would mollify the Council of Adepts. However, if the two most important aspects of the assignment ended satisfactorily, it was logical to assume that the others would as well. Aware that she could juggle variations and probabilities all night and not fathom half the ramifications possible in this set of circumstances — and that without allowing for random factors — Lunzie initiated the hypnotic sequence that would end in sleep.

The next morning, after a potent breakfast stew, Lunzie took the four-men sled back to the giff cave. Varian went off with Portegin in one of the smaller sleds, combining both xenob and geological scouting. Triv went prospecting in an area where the radiation counter had begun chattering at the end of the previous day's swing. Kai couldn't keep his eagerness to inspect the find out of his voice, but in his weakened condition, he was more useful as duty officer. And he was kept busier than anticipated for the reason that they lacked materials on which to keep notes and mark coordinates. However, as the campsite contained a level area of packed dirt, Kai used a sharp stick to inscribe the figures as they were called in, plus whatever additional notes were relayed. On the other side of the path from his message board, he began working on as detailed a map of Ireta as he could call to mind. He started with his recollection of the basement rock area which was unlikely to have changed much in elapsed forty-three years. As he sketched, Kai grinned to himself. The others could fault Tor the Thek as much as they wished, but to him, the fact that the Thek had come to Ireta in search of the long — lost core of obvious Thek manufacture was a personal triumph. If the artifact had not been so significant to the Thek, Kai was certain that Tor would have remained. But why had it taken forty-three years to rouse the Thek to investigate?

Kai marked in the immense northeastern plain where the butte formations had caused them to place the secondary camp. He was tempted to place pebbles to signify the rocky out croppings. He wasn't sure of the terrain leading to the settlement but Triv said it was probably a raised sea bed of geologically recent upheaval. Quite likely, since it would have been beyond the "safer" basement area, at the edge of one set of the planet's restless tectonic plates. Volcanic disturbances had been recorded in the brief time the team had been there.

Kai had to leave the pole areas as terra incognita. Because of Ireta's peculiar formation and its very hot thermal core, the poles were hotter then the equator and considerably more active. Massive changes might have taken place there even in a brief four decade span.

Lunzie interrupted his cartographical labors to report her safe arrival at the cave, adding that she'd been escorted by three giffs. She had picked up sufficient vegetable fiber en route to supply them with plenty of pulp paper, and while arousing the sleepers, she intended to make use of her spare time to experiment with juices that might make an ink. She favored the hadrosaur nut for the shell left a stain on the fingers.

Kai could not help but feel chagrined when he returned to his map but then he took heart — this map was three dimensional and much larger than any paper Lunzie could manufacture. He began to make mud mountains and simulate the giffs' inland sea, then he sighted the three camps with flags made of twig and triangular purple leaves.

Varian reported in next about the first pitch blend deposit, interrupting his construction of the terrain. She was tell-tagging great herds of beasts, varieties of hadrosaur she had not previously noted, and was nearly to the Great Rift where the carotene grass grew.

Kai returned to his work and gouged out the Rift. He was rather enjoying himself by then and was not too pleased to have his Rift-making interrupted by another summons to the comunit. It was Varian, highly excited. She'd flown across the smoking trail of recent lava flow and observed fringes large and small: some were hunting while others were folded, their thin envelopes swollen with prey.

"Some are even attached to the big beasts. Those stupids don't seem to know they're being eaten alive. And there's nothing I can do."

"Did you bring a stunner with you, Varian?" Kai asked.

"Kai, we don't have enough charges to waste..."

"Don't waste, Varian. Just see if the fringes are deterred by a stun charge."

"Point's taken," she replied in an odd tone. "I'll use it on some animal that has a chance." She signed off.

How much warmth would attract a fringe? Kai wondered as he watered dirt to make a mountain range beyond the Rift. Apparently Triv and Varian had not been warm enough to attract the one at the old compound. The current campsite, erected as temporary quarters for two geologists, was going to be cramped with seven. Was that over the critical warmth mass? If it was, would fringes be deterred by a forcescreen? Kai rose from his map-making and prowled the perimeter. The ground sloped away from the ridge on which the dome rested. A barren rocky out crop several meters beyond had defeated even Ireta's vegetation. They'd have visual warning of an attack by fringes.

The creatures' emergence as predators was another of Ireta's puzzles. There hadn't been much talk between himself and Varian. He'd been ill, of course, and she and Lunzie had done as they both saw to the advantage of the group. That was only logical. But he couldn't shake the notion that Varian was more distant. He tried not to relate that to her encounter with Aygar and the mutineers' descendants. He was wrong to call them that, perhaps, but the term sprang readily to mind. He must be imagining things: there was no change in Varian, merely the vestiges of the barriers that Lunzie had set for her protection.

The buzz of the comunit was a welcome interruption. Triv reported that he had detected a high ironstone reading along a vast ridge but his sled had flushed an unusual number of large creatures from the thick vegetation covering the ridge.

"Not that landing for a sample would do us any good, but a sample of the rock makes a nice display until we have assay materials." The geologist snorted. "We should have been asking for supplies from Aygar's folk instead of offering them."

"They're an iron-age technology, Triv. We want to be in the transuranics. Forget the metals: watch that counter!"

Though Kai went back to his map, he had lost all enthusiasm for it. He had a wayward urge to trample it down into the soil from which he had raised it. He had in fact lifted one foot to obliterate the mountain when he caught sight of his bloodied fist. Startled he examined the hand and then the other, and hastily returned to the dome to wash away the mud and examine the damage he hadn't felt. Fortunately it was no more than scrapes and minor cuts. He was still examining his hands when the first of the sleds returned. He almost resented the intrusion on his solitude.

No sooner had Triv parked his sled than the second, with Varian and Portegin, emerged from the evening haze. Varian halted Triv's entrance to the veil, saying she'd a lot of fruit and bean pods to bring in. No sooner were the three inside the screen than Triv saw the relief map and would have dropped his burden had not Varian shouted. Then she and Portegin stood, arms full, exclaiming over Kai's improvisation.

"I'd have to check scale," Kai said, disclaiming their fulsome compliments, "and, of course, we don't know how the polar region or the southern tip have changed with tectonic action..."

"Are you in there?" A harsh shout at the veil entrance distracted them.

"It's Lunzie," Varian cried, looking hastily about her for a spot to place her burdens.

"Come on, you three," the medic called, "this bunch isn't too steady on their feet yet. Kai, operate this damned veil."

In the excitement of welcoming Trizein, Margit, and Dimenon, Kai was relieved that Lunzie had no time to notice his hands, which he kept at his sides. Then Varian called him to help her unload the rest of her harvest while the newly-awakened were made comfortable in the dome.

"If you'll just hold your arms out, Kai..." Varian stared down at the hand he obediently held upward for a load. She started to touch his scored fingers and then stopped, staring at his face. "That does it, Kai. We contact someone who can remedy this. Even a freighter will have medical files on its computer."

"Varian, if the Ryxi — "

"I've an override to protect my own species first, Kai." She exhaled, part in exasperation, part in anger until her eyes, avoiding his, fell on the map, its mountain mounds and the Rift outlined in the last of the westerly light. "And that's a contribution, too!"

She finished loading his extended arms, grinning conspiratorially at him as she artistically draped bean pod leaves over his hands and then gave him an affectionate shove back to the dome.

Trizein provided an almost continuous monologue on the types, probable evolutionary steps, habit, temperament, and breeding methods of all the creatures he had seen on his way from the giff cave to theirs. According to Dimenon's amused aside, the chemist had nearly driven Lunzie to fury by his insistence that they divert the journey to follow this or that species until he had had a close enough look. He had also appropriated some of the pulp sheets Lunzie had extruded for Kai, insisting that his work would be far more important in the eyes of the FSP than any merely prodigious amount of transuranic elements. "Why, the discovery of those beasts would settle for once and all an argument that had exercised centuries of paleontologists, biologists, and xenobiologists — the possibility of convergent biology, of similar life-forms evolving from cellular stews on different planets. He added, complete with wild gestures, that its happening with a third-generation sun was utterly improbable, incredible, and unlikely — as any zoologist of the lowest rating would tell you.

Trizein continued in this vein, occasionally stopping to admire one of his many sketches, apologizing for its rudeness and correcting a line or contour, until Lunzie announced that everyone had better eat something, then shoved Trizein's bowl under his nose.

The man's enthusiasm was so infectious that even Kai found himself smiling at the man's joy.

"We'll go out again, tomorrow, Trizein," Varian said, her voice bubbling with good humor. "I've the Rift grasses. Lunzie, do you need to synthesize — "

"More paper at the rate Trizein's using it up," the medic said with a sniff, but she'd a twinkle in her eye as well.

"Lunzie what did the heavyworlders do for vitamin C if it's so necessary to our diet?" asked Triv.

"This is a huge continent. If there is one such area of carotene-rich grass to supply these ancient beasties of Trizein's, undoubtedly there's another. Divisti would have known about the need for vitamin C or they'd all be without hair and teeth — which I gather they weren't." Lunzie shot a glance at Varian.

"Portegin ought to go with you, Lunzie, and dismantle the beacon mast." Varian had everyone's stunned attention. "I've given the matter considerable thought and, if, as you suggested, the Ryxi have employed human mercenary ships and crew, that's who'd be sent to answer any call from us. I don't feel we can achieve enough without proper equipment. The heavyworlders got what they wanted, and I refuse to see us deprived of more than time."

"More than time?" Dimenon demanded with considerable agitation.

"That's all so far," Margit said blandly. "The beacon does register our finds to our credit, doesn't it, Kai?" When Kai nodded, she went on, "So, our claims are valid — "

"Until the colony ship settles," Lunzie said. Her tenacity to that theme was beginning to puzzle Kai. She turned to Varian then and said, "I doubt that a Ryxi would answer a call from here. What's his feather — " and she wound her hand in the air as a memory aid, looking at Kai.

"Vrl," he supplied coldly.

"That Vrl's probably still alive. I doubt he cares."

"Ryxi have a long life span on low-gravity planets," Varian said, "but it's a chance we've got to risk. It's worth far more in terms of the supplies we must have to achieve our original objectives." She turned to Lunzie. "Tomorrow, Rianav and the helmsman from Cruiser 218-ZD-43 will make a second run to the plateau," and she inclined her head significantly. "We'll jam their beacon and then get a message off to the Ryxi."

"If a freighter is in," Kai added, "give them a course that'll fly past the mutineers' camp. That'll make them think twice about calling in their colony ship."

"Will there be someone to take me out tomorrow?" Trizein asked plaintively.

"I will," Triv replied.

"Then we can get on with surveying?" Margit asked hopefully.

"You'd better!" Kai said.

"I could stay in as coordinator, Kai," Lunzie said.

"Appreciated, Lunzie, but I've got to compose a message for the Ryxi..."

Varian's unrepentant grin, reminding him of previous occasions when he'd been left to communicate with the Ryxi, lifted Kai's spirits.

It was very early in the morning when Rianav roused her helmsman for an early start on their mission. A hearty stew was simmering in the hearth pot when the medic awoke. Although Rianav knew that nothing could have penetrated the force screen that surrounded the dome, it made her uneasy that no watch had been kept on what was, after all, a hostile planet. Still, the medic could close the screen after they had left. Which she did, with a silent wave of good luck as they departed in the two-man sled.

The gloom of cloudy night surrounded them and Rianav was glad they had flown the course before and had some knowledge of the terrain. She kept the sled at a respectable altitude. The telltagger's infrequent spouting was the only noise to break the silence as they sped northeast.

They were an hour into their journey when the telltagger rattled hysterically.

"Krims! What was that?" Portegin demanded.

"Something awful big, Lieutenant!"

"There's nothing airborne that big on this planet..."

"I hope!"

"Heat register's too high, anyhow." Rianav hauled the sled to starboard, her quick action preventing a collision. A massive object streaked across their previous line of flight. They could follow the bright yellow-white exhausts as the vessel flashed by on their Portside.

"What under the seven suns was that?" Portegin asked, craning his neck to follow its course.

"A medium-light space vessel to judge by the propulsion configuration.

"From the heavies' camp?" Portegin's voice rang with understandable concern.

"I doubt it, helmsman. It came from due east, not northeast."

"Scouts?"

"Not that large a ship."

"Unless that colonist transport also carries military craft..." Portegin added.

"Belay that, helmsman. We don't need to borrow trouble. We have our orders."

"So we do, sir." At the skepticism and near impudence in her subordinate's tone, Rianav grinned to herself. "Ma'am, shouldn't we inform base camp? And shouldn't we inform our cruiser of this violation of Ireta's air space?"

"Not if it also informs that intruder of the whereabouts of our base camp, helmsman. The cruiser would have observed the entry. I see no point in breaking comsilence and informing a listener of our presence. Especially as we are heading toward the plateau."

"But, if the Heavyworld transport is down, we don't need to jam that beacon."

"First we get to the plateau, helmsman." Rianav spoke firmly enough to repress further suggestions.

The sullen Iretan dawn lightened the skies just as they reached the first of the falls below the plateau.

"Lieutenant, isn't that awfully bright for dawn?" asked Portegin, pointing slightly to starboard. A luminous bright yellow formed a curious circle under pendulous Iretan clouds.

"Damn funny!" Rianav piled on power and took the little sled up at a steep angle to get maximum height while still in the shelter of the hills surrounding the plateau.

Then several things happened at once.

"This is rescue mission! Is anyone on that beacon?" demanded an impatient voice. After a moment of silence, the voice spoke to someone in the background. "No luck on this frequency, sir... Roger. All freq. at max. power."

The telltagger began to hum. Not chatter or squawk but the hum which experience told Rianav was a large airborne object slowly approaching them from a height.

"A ship? can you see it, Portgin?"

"No. Shouldn't I answer the rescue hail?"

"Not if they're homing in on this beacon? We say nothing. Oh Krims! and bollix!" Rianav swore fiercely and loudly, trying to deny what they saw.

"We've had it!" Portegin's resigned words came out in an awed whisper.

They had risen above the screening terrain, the hills from which the iron ore had been mined to cushion the vast bulk of the transport ship which was settling to earth. The light seen by Rianav and Portegin was radiating from its underside and from arc lights surrounding the landing site.

"That isn't what's making the telltagger talk," protested Portegin and looked over his shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak when a bolt spewed from the maw of the transport.

Rianav slewed the sled in a frantic effort to avoid the beam. That was all she remembered.

"Kai? Kai, are you awake?"

At the panicky tone in Dimenon's voice, Kai sprang awkwardly toward the comunit.

"I'm here."

"Kai, I'll swear it. We got Thek here. Thek all around. Big ones, little ones, like they were taking turns!"

"Where are you, Dim?"

"We're just over the pitch blend strike — "

Dimenon's words were cut off abruptly. Kai tried to reestablish contact. Not that Dimenon or Margit would be in any danger from the Thek, but he would prefer a little more detailed report. When he failed to raise the geologists, he switched to Lunzie.

"Where abouts are you, Lunzie?"

"Nearly to the cave. Why?"

"Dimenon just reported there are Thek on the first strike. Then he went silent."

"Thek? Kai, I think we'd better raise Varian and abort that mission. If Thek are here..."

"THIS IS RESCUE MISSION. IS ANYONE ON "THAT BEACON? THIS IS AN ALL — FREQUENCIES HAIL. WE ARE A RESCUE MISSION. WE ARE HOMING IN ON YOUR BEACON!"

The interruption stunned Kai and Lunzie.

"You are blasting our eardrums, rescue," Lunzie said. "What is your origin?"

"Ryxi."

"Maintain silence and home in on beacon." Lunzie interrupted in a tone that inspired compliance. "I'll get back to you, Base." Kai knew to maintain his silence.

Which beacon? he wanted to shout. And why were Thek appearing all over the landscape? Should he not attempt to warn Varian? Well, if the rescue ship was heading toward the heavyworlders' beacon, Varian would abort on her own initiative.

His moment of panic subsided. The appearance of Thek meant that Tor had informed others. It was as likely that Tor had organized a rescue from Ryxi, and humans at that by the voice. Then Kai found another reason to be alarmed, since he seemed determined to be anxious: Tor would not know that Kai had roused other members of his team. Tor would not know that the heavyworlders were active on the planet. Surely a Thek could tell the difference between normal humans and heavyworlders? Dimenon wouldn't panic when raced with a Thek, even a horde of them. And Dimenon would know to ask for Tor, Wouldn't he? Two anxious hours Kai waited.

"Kai, are you there?" Lunzie's voice had a buoyancy which Kai had never heard in it before.

"Yes, yes, I'm here! Where else?"

"At ease," Lunzie's voice had a lilt of laughter for his sarcasm. "All's well here at the cliff beacon. I'll have to apologize to Varian. Those giffs of hers are far more intelligent than we suspected."

"Why?"

"I'll swear they recognized the difference between my sled and the one Captain Godheir sent in. When I got here, the giffs were protecting the cave and our shuttle against any unauthorized intrusion..."

"Who's Godheir?"

"The captain of the Ryxi supply vessel, the Mazer Star. And I apologize to you, too. Your Thek, Tor, left orders with the Ryxi planet to mount a rescue mission for you. But the Ryxi vessel was away on a supply trip so it took them until now to respond. The vessel's medium-sized and had to land in the jungle. They sent in a sled and the giffs attacked it. They're formidable in the air. I arrived as the battle was in full swing. But Kai, when I approached, the giffs escorted me to the cave. And the captain will swear to it." Kai wasn't sure why Lunzie should sound so triumphant over that point. "So I've asked Captain Godheir to send a sled to collect you, and some men to guard the dome. And if his diagnostic unit doesn't have an answer, the cruiser's will. Godheir's trying to raise Dimenon but he's also agreed to send out a search party if you'll give me the coordinates." Kai quickly gave her the figures. "And Kai, I lodged an official charge of mutiny with Captain Godheir. You'll be asked to confirm."

Kai caught his breath because it was scarcely the function of a medical officer, even an Adept, to lodge such a complaint if either of the team's leaders were alive.

"You'll want it on record, Kai," and Lunzie's voice was not the least apologetic for her usurpation of right, "because the colony ship's down and a cruiser is guarding "Varian and Portegin?"

Lunzie's voice altered again, devoid of emotion. "Their sled received a bolt from the transport but the cruiser was able to grapple it in time to break the full force of a crash. They're both alive and being conveyed to the cruiser. Just hang on there, Kai. We've got more help than we need."

"Any news on the ARCT-10?"

"No, but Godheir wouldn't necessarily know. The cruiser might. I'll ask when they've secured the transport. Take it easy now, Kai. No fretting. I'll see you soon."

Only then did Kai notice the blood running from his hands. He had been gripping the comunit so hard, he had lacerated his palms. He had no great hopes that either diagnostic unit could help him, but perhaps there'd be some skin-gloves and shin pads so he'd stop injuring himself. He thrust his hands into a basin of water, aware that he couldn't even sense the temperature. He salved the cuts and bandaged them.

So the colony ship had landed after all. Whether a cruiser was on its back or not now mattered little. Time had run out on their attempt to salvage something of this miscarried expedition. His first opportunity to prove his leadership ability had ended in disaster. Kai walked morosely around the relief map. With an air of finality, he picked up the discarded pods of hadrosaur nuts and placed the smallest one near the giffs' cave, the next largest on the edge of the heavyworlders' plateau and the largest right in the midst of the grid. Then he sat, bandaged hands dangling between his legs while he waited for the rescue sled.

Chapter NINE

Hands pulled urgently at Rianav and she groaned. An ache encompassed her whole body.

"Lemmalone."

"Not when I have no choice but to retrieve you," a familiar voice said. Hands now reached under her armpits, lifting her strangely unresisting body out of the pilot's seat. "You're in one piece. Just relax, Lieutenant."

"Easy there, now," another voice called, its tone of command undiminished by distance.

"You're lighter than I'd thought," the familiar voice murmured.

Rianav forced her eyes open and gasped. Blood seemed to be dripping from her face. The arms that lifted her were heavily corded. She started to struggle.

"Don't," Aygar ordered impatiently. "I'm under surveillance and I've no wish to be stunned again. You have nothing to fear from me. Or mine." His tone was bitter, but as he eased her from the damaged cockpit, his hands did not abuse his advantage.

"Cut the chatter," the other voice ordered. The voice came from below her. She couldn't make out her surroundings. "Just lift her out. Nice and easy. Medic!"

"I'll carry her down." Aygar has lost none of his arrogance, she thought. She relaxed as she felt him descending a steep and uneven way.

Despite blurred vision, partly due to the blood which streamed down her nose, Rianav looked about her as Aygar scrambled down a rocky incline. The sled had crumpled, nose first, into the side of a cliff and wedged in. Another sturdy young man was extracting Portegin's limp body from his side of the wrecked vehicle. On a much wider shelf about fifteen meters below were a pinnace and a cluster of uniformed personnel, some with drawn stunners, watching the rescue operation. Blinking to clear her eyes, Rianav looked beyond, to the vast plateau now inhabited by the immense squat bulk of a colony transport ship and the long sleekly dangerous form of a medium deep-space cruiser. As Rianav made out the designation, 218-ZD-43 on the stern fins, she experienced an unreasonable spurt of pure panic and clutched at Aygar's shoulders.

"I told you. I won't harm you. That bunch is just wailing for a chance to blast us out of existence." Aygar's bitterness was intense.

"Your transport shot us down."

"You and your phony rescue mission. All the time your cruiser was tracking the transport!"

Rianav flinched from his anger, aware of contradictory, non-sensical and conflicting emotions. But the next moment Aygar had reached the ledge and she was removed from his arms. She started to protest as she saw him pushed to one side by armed personnel. Then a medic was busy checking the pupils of her eyes and someone else applied an antiseptic pack to her bleeding forehead. She felt a spray go in one arm, a powerful restorative to judge by the flood of energy that surged through her body.

"You'll do," the medic muttered and stepped back, signaling his assistant to help Rianav clean the worst of the blood from her skin. The Iretan flies were buzzing in a cloud, attracted by the smell of blood.

"Lieutenant Rianav," and she turned to look at the officer who now confronted her. His race was totally unfamiliar to her. Even medium-size cruisers were not so huge that officers could remain unknown to one another. His expression was compounded of many elements: anticipation, curiosity, and a tinge of awe. "Commander Sassinak is waiting for your personal report."

To gain a moment to collect herself, Rianav looked over to where Portegin was being examined. "Is he all right?"

"He'll have a worse headache than you will, Lieutenant," the medic replied cheerfully then pointed to the long gash across Portegin's forehead. "Only a flesh wound. Here, you, let's get him out of this stinking air and away from those blood-sucking insects."

Aygar and his friend were summarily encouraged to lift Portegin and bring him into the pinnace.

"We used those two local lads to reach you," the officer was saying in an apologetic tone as he escorted Rianav to the pinnace. "They said," and he gave a skeptical snort, "they were on their way to rescue you anyhow." He dropped his voice to a confidential tone as they entered the little ship. "We haven't had a planetfall in months and we might have botched the climb. Couldn't let that happen. Sorry you landed so hard. We saw that transport zap you and the commander only managed to get a tractor beam on you long enough to cushion the fall — All secure back there?"

"Aye, aye, sir."

Rianav craned her head to see Portegin strapped into a seat, the medics on either side of him. Aygar and his companion were under the wary guard of four marines, two with drawn stunners.

"Why are those men under guard, Lieutenant?" Rianav asked as she fastened her seat belt.

"They're mutineers. Your people filed a charge of mutiny, you know. First thing your commander told mine. "

There was something wrong with that statement but Rianav could not fathom what, beyond the obvious error that her commander and his must be the same.

The young lieutenant leaned toward her, his voice low. "The other elements of your group have all reported in, Rianav. Don't worry about anything." He turned aside to order the helmsman to take the pinnace back to the ZD-43. Then he grinned complacently at Rianav. "The heavyworlders' transport never even knew we were on their tails. Sassiness' a canny commander."

As the little pinnace took off, Rianav placed trembling fingers against her temples. That knock on her head had done more than visible damage for she was being affected with selective amnesia. She knew that there was to be a colony ship but not that her cruiser was chasing it. She knew she served on the ZD-43 but she couldn't recognize any of the men on the pinnace, or conjure up the name of her commanding officer.

"That transport was being trailed?" She'd been so sure that her cruiser was in orbit above the planet, had had no intention of landing, and that she was part of a rescue mission, answering a distress call.

"Ever since the transport crossed into our patrol sector. Ships the size of that baby are leeched the moment the keel is laid. Part of the Federation's long-term plan to stop planet piracy. So the moment the leech activated our sensors, we checked Registry and knew we'd a live one." The lieutenant's grin broadened. "The transport was built in Voroshinsky, sold to Dopli — the Heavyworld planet in Signi Sector — and it was heading in a very suspicious direction, there being very few systems open for colonization out this side. So we pursued it with the leech keeping it on a leash for us."

Rianav felt a gentle bump as the pinnace landed. Briskly the young lieutenant unfastened his seat belt and rose, ordering the medics to take Portegin to the sick bay, the marines to remove the prisoners and secure them in the settlement. He was turning, with more courtesy in his manner, to Rianav when the comunit on the pinnace console burbled a summons.

"Guarded message for Lieutenant Rianav, sir," the helmsman announced, rising from his place and gesturing for Rianav to take his seat. Then he and the officer discreetly left the pinnace.

"Lieutenant Rianav here," she said, depressing the screen toggle. Its tiny picture revealed a face which Rianav did recognize: her medic.

"Report, Varian."

As Lunzie's words dissipated the barrier, Varian-Rianav sank against the back of the contour chair, her mind reeling as one identity still impinged on the other.

"Slight miscalculation on our part, Varian. We now have more help than we can use. Are you okay?"

"A scratch on the scalp and a distinct feeling that I'd lost my memory. Portegin's still unconscious but they say he'll be fine. Lunzie, did you know that this cruiser is the ZD-43?"

"So I'm told. Nice coincidence, isn't it? Did you pick up that all-frequencies hail on your way to the plateau?"

"Who was that?" Rianav-Varian remembered everything now.

"That was our friendly Ryxi rescue mission. No Ryxi, by the way." Lunzie chuckled. "Nearly blew Commander Sassiness' little surprise party. Kai's Tor gave the alert but the Ryxi had to wait for the vessel to return from a supply run before they could dispatch it to our assistance. And Dimenon reported to Kai that the Thek have arrived in strength."

"In strength?"

"Dotting the landscape, thirty strong by the latest count. That's a lot of Thek."

"Any of them Tor?"

"Don't know. Dimenon filed in the report and then Kai lost the connection. Captain Godheir has sent a sled out after him and Margit. And I've got a lot to tell you about your precious giffs when you get back. After Commander Sassinak has had her chat with you. I didn't know about the cruiser when I filed a mutiny charge with Captain Godheir. I wanted that on record as soon as possible. Sassinak will want to have details from you. I'm reviving the rest of the sleepers now. Their reports are going to be needed, too. And they might as well wake up. We've got enough help now to complete the original mission."

"Lunzie, how's Kai?"

"In Godheir's sick tank. We can improve his condition. As I said, I didn't know about the cruiser. Its medical team can help if Godheir's doesn't come up with an answer." Behind Varian, someone was noisily clearing his throat.

I'll join you as soon as I can arrange transport, Lunzie. Just continue as you think best."

"Well, that gives me plenty of latitude."

"You don't need any more," Varian said in an ironic tone. Lunzie gave her a sardonic grin as she broke the connection. Then Varian rose to race the lieutenant.

"My wits have been rattled, Lieutenant, I don't know your name."

"Borander." He smiled. "Commander Sassinak is waiting for you." Borander now exuded an air of urgency. "You look a lot better now, you know. I was a bit worried about you for a while. You didn't seem yourself."

"You could say I wasn't."

Borander escorted her from the pinnace which had landed near the cruiser by one of the open air locks. From her vantage point in the pinnace's lock, Varian had a good view of the heavy gunsleds in position around the massive hulk of the Heavyworld transport. Cruisers were scarcely small but the ZD-43 looked almost puny as it faced the colony ship. Only one of the transport's huge locks was open, but none of the Heavyworld contingent was visible. Varian hoped that the cruiser's weaponry was trained on the transport. It looked so menacing, just sitting there, as if it meant to stay. She was only slightly reassured by the fact that most colonists were shipped in cold sleep to their new destinations.

"These guys built a proper strip, I'll give "em that much," Borander said, gesturing to their right.

Aygar and his friend were squatting on their haunches beside the pinnace, and the friend scowled at her. Aygar was staring into the distance, indifferent to his surroundings and the marines' weapons.

"Borander, why are these men being guarded?"

"Why, because they're mutineers," Borander replied.

"These two men are not mutineers, Lieutenant Borander. They were born here on Ireta and they had nothing to do with the mutiny. There is no need to keep them under restraint."

"Now, look, your people registered a mutiny charge first with Captain Godheir and then with Commander Sassinak — "

"Which still has nothing to do with Aygar and anyone in his generation or even his parents."

"And I suppose they didn't help build that grid to assist an illegal landing..." Borander switched from surprise to open scorn.

"I think the judicial will find that Aygar was acting on misinformation and could be excused from a conscious violation of EEC regulations."

Borander held himself stiffly. "That is not for me to decide. Now, Commander Sassinak is waiting for you."

"Then Aygar can accompany us and I'll sort the matter out right now."

Aygar maintained his air of indifference but his companion was staring at Varian, his jaw had dropped open and his face bore a surprised expression that put Varian in mind of Tardma.

"Why, I can't just walk into the commander's office with these two — "

"I can." Varian put the steel of Discipline into her voice. "I'll remind you, Lieutenant, that as co-leader of an authorized expedition to Ireta, I have the rank of planetary governor pro-tem. Who outranks whom, Lieutenant?"

Borander swallowed, arching his back to attention. "You do... ma'am. But that doesn't mean the commander's going to like it."

Varian ignored that remark and turned to the Iretans. "Aygar, if you and your friend would be good enough to accompany us?" She stared pointedly from the marines to Borander who signaled them to sheathe their stunners. Aygar rose from his haunches with graceful ease.

"You'd be one of Tardma's grandchildren?" she asked the unknown Iretan.

"I'm Winral," the man replied in a surly voice, eyeing her with growing anxiety.

Borander stepped out quickly toward the cruiser's gang plank. Aygar fell in beside her while Winral tagged behind. Varian noticed but did not comment on the fact that Borander signaled the marines to bring up the rear.

"Lieutenant, would you know how much damage my sled sustained? I'll need transport to return to my base camp as soon as I've seen the commander."

"Apart from the crumbled nose, I'd say the bolt just drained your power pack," Borander replied in a formal tone. "I'll order it retrieved and repowered."

Varian received the distinct impression that Borander did not think she'd survive her interview with his commander. They were halfway to their destination when one of Ireta's sudden down pours caught them. It afforded Varian some amusement that she, Aygar, and Winral paid no attention to the rain though even the marines flinched.

"Let 'em have the place, I say," someone muttered behind Varian in a voice meant to be overheard. "I've smelled stinks — "

Borander whipped around, hoping to identify the speaker. His annoyance was increased as he noticed Aygar's sublime indifference to the elements.

Varian was not attached to any service unit, so the usual boarding salute to the flag was not required of her. Nevertheless, when she reached the top of the gangplank, she had to exert a conscious effort not to follow Borander's example. The duty officer immediately stepped forward objecting to the presence of Aygar and Winral.

"As planetary governor pro-tem, I wish to redress a wrong with Commander Sassinak. These men are here at my express invitation."

"Commander Sassinak has already interviewed the mutineers."

"Mutineer," and Varian laid firm stress on the singular. "These people cannot be held guilty of the transgressions of their grandparents. Have I made my position clear, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Now, if you will take me to your commander?" Varian turned to Borander.

The manner in which Borander escorted her revealed to Varian just how much the young man wished to be through with her. It had irritated her, or perhaps Rianav, to see Aygar held at stun-range. Rianav-Varian both could believe that Aygar had indeed been on his way to look for the sled's survivors. What his intention would have been after the rescue, was moot. But she felt required to seek fair treatment for him.

As Varian, Aygar, and Winral followed Borander through the maze of passages into the cruiser's depths, she became aware of the almost palpable interest in these surroundings which Aygar could not suppress. This would be his first opportunity to view close-up the products of sophisticated science and empire. Quite likely he had been reared on tales of such marvels, as well as the Heavyworld race-saving mendacity's. Winral was clearly overwhelmed by everything, gawking about him and stumbling over the bulkheads. Aygar maintained his dignity and composure despite his obvious excitement and curiosity.

Then they were being ushered into the commander's office, a spacious apartment with computer terminals and viewscrcens across the biggest wall. Seating units and serving counters made an informal grouping along the opposite wall, facing the screens. The commander was seated in a contour swivel chair before a console and wide desk. Varian made a rapid survey of the screens, one positioned on the settlement and the other eleven trained on various aspects of the bloated transport.

"Leader Varian, how pleased I am that you were unharmed," the commander said, rising and extending her hand. Sassinak was a tall woman of wiry build and the authority of many decades in a command position, though her short black hair was unsullied by gray and her supple figure gave an impression of timeless energy. She gave Aygar a careful nod. "We're in a bit of a muckle here. Your point about the... planet-born..." and she gestured courteously toward Aygar and Winral, "is well taken." She cleared her throat, tapping her lips with her left hand as she did so. Varian saw the humorous gleam in her eyes. "I assure you, it will be respected in all future dealings with the... ah... indigenes. Only one of the original mutineers is alive, you know. And, I fear, he is in very poor physical condition and could be termed senile."

"The charge of mutiny is a formality, Commander, necessary to protect my associates and to rectify the disposition of Ireta."

"I understand the situation, Leader Varian. A wise move, I assure you, since several entities appear to be interested in this planet. You have heard, have you not, that the Thek are represented by quite a concentration."

"Yes."

"You're as baffled as I, then. Good. I intensely dislike being uninformed."

"Commander, do you know where the ARCT-10 is?" Varian asked urgently.

Commander Sassinak grinned ruefully. "That's another good question to which I have no answer. We have already inquired of the local Sector Command. You will appreciate that we have crossed several sectors in pursuit of the transport, and such information wouldn't necessarily be present in our banks. We'll let you know as soon as we have received an update. I have heard nothing about the loss of an EV ship and certainly that would have had a broad dissemination. Now that we are out of communication silence, we'll be able to ask for updates." Sassiness' attention was divided between Varian and the screens. Now her glance lingered on the stalwart figure of Aygar, sparing the briefest notice of Winral. "Now, sir, we must regularize your position. May I have your name?" She reached over to flip on a recorder.

"I am Aygar, son of Graila and Tetum, maternal grandson of Berru and Bakkun, paternal grandson of Paskutti and Divisti." There was pride and challenge in Aygar's tone.

"And you?"

"Winral, son of Aun and Mella, paternal grandson of Tardma and Paskutti, maternal grandson of Tanegli and Divisti." Winral was sullen.

"Yes, quite. With a small genetic pool, you would have to be careful of inbreeding, wouldn't you?" Sassinak tapped a few keys. "Born and raised on Ireta and your fore fathers did, I suspect, have some sort of regulatory body. Your settlement seems very well organized." She looked inquiringly at Aygar.

"Paskutti was our leader until his death. Then the duty was assumed by Berru and from him fell to my father, Tetum."

Sassinak leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "According to my understanding of planetary regulations, you are a citizen of Ireta, therefore an Iretan. My knowledge of your planet is limited to the reports, now forty-three years old, which we stripped from the beacon on our way in and suggests that there are no other sentient species..."

"There is a developing species," Varian said quickly, noting the surprise and puzzlement in Aygar's look and the surprise in Sassiness'.

"There was no mention of any in your beacon messages."

"Those were sent a long time ago — "

"I was informed that you were cryo until ten days ago?"

"My report mentioned an avian life-form, golden fliers — "

"Yes, it did. They're the developing species? Avians? And the Ryxi settled in the same system? They aren't going to like that."

"They haven't been told, have they?"

"Certainly not. I've been too preoccupied with this business to tend to yours, Leader Varian." Sassiness' voice took on an edge. "I'll deal with that if it becomes my business. However, Aygar, you are resident here. You are not, technically speaking, involved in the mutiny charge. Under Federated rules and regulations, your people of the two generations raised here, have the right to whatever you have developed during your residence... including the landing grid, when put to authorized use." She signaled to the yeoman standing unobtrusively nearby. "I'll want it recorded and announced that the only person under the charge of mutiny is that Tanegli fellow. You are no longer under restraint, bind, or halt and may continue whatever employment and pursuits you choose."

"We have been preparing for a colonial supplement."

Sassinak chuckled. "I like you, young man. This world breeds sturdy people. However, they," and she flicked her hand at the screens showing the Heavyworld transport ship, "are illegal immigrants on a world clearly designated as exploratory and uncleared for occupation. They can stay where they are until the tribunal can deal with the offense. It would be in your best interests," and her gesture included Winral and the settlement, "to have absolutely nothing to do with them for collusion will definitely jeopardize your current possessions and your future." She leaned across her console. "You have made a tremendous start here, Aygar. Consolidate those beginnings any way you can before the tribunal sits in judgment. Advice I also extend to you, Varian, although I understand you've already been doing just that since your awakening." She rose and walked around the console to stand looking up at Aygar. Sassinak was a tall, well-made woman, but Aygar's height and bulk dwarfed her. "You'd make a fine marine, young man, if you decide to quit this world."

Aygar looked down at her, his face and eyes expressionless

"This is my world, Commander. All of it — "

"No, Aygar, not all of it," and the steel was back in Sassiness' voice and manner, "only what you and the planet-born have cultivated. Do I make myself plain?" When he had nodded acknowledgment, she relaxed with a smile. "I would be greatly obliged if you would permit me to make a tour of your settlement and its installations. I like to know as much about the planets I visit as is possible." Sassinak offered her hand to Aygar.

For one moment, Varian was afraid that Aygar would ignore the gesture. Then, as his massive hand closed about the commander's slimmer one, Varian also hoped that he would make a vain show of his inherent strength. Why it should matter at all to her that Aygar should make a good impression on Sassinak, Varian didn't understand — since she was very well aware that she and Aygar held differing notions about Ireta's future. Varian might blame Rianav for her championing of Aygar, but it had been as Varian that she had insisted on the review of his status.

"There is much to be done now, Commander," Aygar said, releasing Sassiness' hand.

"I should imagine so," and Sassinak deftly indicated regret for being the agency which had occasioned such need.

"I believe I can speak for the rest of Iretan's citizens when I say that we would like to show you what we have wrested from a harsh and dangerous environment."

Sassinak nodded, smiling as she took up Aygar's meaning. Varian felt relief that Aygar had opted for a diplomatic approach where force was clearly inappropriate.

"Yes, I like your attitude, Aygar. I'll have my adjutant, Lieutenant Commander Fordeliton, call on you later today. You should listen to some disks, delineating your rights and privileges under FSP law, at your earliest convenience. Under a shipwreck statute, you may replace any items of equipment, bar weapons, which were issued to the original team. I'm prepared to make quite a lenient interpretation of that clause to help you consolidate your position." She gestured to the yeoman. "Del, escort Aygar back to the air lock, will you?"

Sassinak caught Varian's eye, aware that Varian would have preferred to leave with him. "We've some matters to discuss yet, Leader Varian," she said, resuming her seat at the console as Aygar left. "A rather remarkable specimen, that Aygar. Are there more like him here?" A ripple of sensuality in the commander's voice made Varian read-just, once more, her estimate of the woman.

"I've only encountered a few of his generation — "

"Yes, generation." Sassinak sighed. "You're now forty-three years behind your own. Will you need counseling? For yourself or the others?"

"I'll know when I get back to them," Varian replied dryly. "The phenomenon hasn't caught up with me yet. Commander, did you mean what you said about the ARCT-10?"

"Of course, I did. I've no orders to dissemble, though by the gods, this situation becomes more complex with every hour. A displaced expeditionary force, a mutiny charge, a missing EV, a population of off-worlders, an indigenous sentient species and Thek popping up in unexpected strength. Fifty of the blighted things by latest count. Yes?" she said, turning to acknowledge the discreet reappearance of her yeoman.

"Leader Varian's sled has been repaired and is available to her."

"Yes, I expect you're anxious to return to your group. I shall want a comprehensive report from every member of the survivors — especially your youngest members. I shall want them tomorrow. And you'd best update your mission's accounts. Are the supplies aboard Varian's sled?"

"Yes, Commander."

"You've been very generous, Commander."

"You don't even know what the supplies are, Varian," and Sassiness' right eyebrow quirked with amusement. "Records, for one thing, tamper-proof. And your medic sent in some urgent requests. The Ryxi vessel doesn't have all she requires. Not surprising. As planetary governor pro-tem," and Sassinak mocked Varian gently, "you have only to requisition whatever you require from Fordeliton, my executive officer. Your medic's name is Lunzie, isn't it?" Sassinak leaned toward Varian again, in a confidential attitude, her eyes sparkling with humor. When Varian nodded, she grinned. "It was inevitable that one of us encountered her. A celebration is in order. Will you convey my deepest respects to Lunzie? And my invitation to a proper dinner at the first opportunity? I expect that the Zaid-Dayan will be here a while — at least until the tribunal arrives — but one never knows in the service. I cannot miss the chance to meet Lunzie. It isn't often one gets the chance to entertain one's great-great-great-grandmother. Del, do escort Leader Varian to her sled?"

Slightly dazed by Sassiness' totally unexpected parting remark, Varian was halfway to the air lock before she recalled Portegin. Del was quite willing to detour by way of the sick bay.

"We don't get a skull fracture report from the diagnostic scan, Leader Varian," Mayerd, the chief medical officer, explained, "but he's clearly disoriented."

"You mean he has trouble believing this is the ZD-43?" asked Varian, appreciating Portegin's confusion.

"How did you know?"

Then they were in the infirmary, Portegin its only occupant.

"Krims! but I'm glad to see you, Lieutenant," he said, urgently beckoning her to approach his bunk. In an anxious whisper he added, "there's something peculiar going on here, Lieutenant. I don't recognize anyone. How could they switch crews midtour, unless the heavies — "

"Report, Portegin," Varian said, mimicking Lunzie's clipped accents.

"Huh? Oh, Krims!" Portegin fell back against the bolster, tension easing from his face and body as blocked memories flowed back. "I thought something was wrong with me!"

Varian squeezed his shoulder in sympathy. "Me, too."

"Hey, then everything is all right?" Portegin caught her arm with urgent fingers. "I mean, that Heavyworld transport zapped us and I wake up on a cruiser. Was that rescue mission from the ARCT-10? How're the others? How come we thought we were from this cruiser?"

Varian gave him what answers she had and then called Mayerd over, indicating Portegin's improvement and asking to have him released. Mayerd reluctantly agreed, extracting from Varian a promise that Portegin would undertake no strenuous activities for a day or two.

"Nothing more strenuous than juggling matrices and wielding a soldering iron," Portegin assured her, slipping into the new shipsuit he was given.

Once aboard their crumple-nosed sled, Varian filled Portegin in on some of the details while he elatedly sorted through the supplies, exclaiming over the variety of matrices, tool replacements, and packed food stuffs.

"Hey, we got us a bottle of Sverulan brandy — Ah, fardles! It's got Lunzie's name on it. Compliments of Commander Sassinak? A friend of hers?"

"You might say so," Varian replied, discretion overcoming her wish to confound. It occurred to her that Lunzie might not wish to claim a relationship so far removed in time.

"Fardles! That stuff goes down a treat. Real smooth." Portegin carefully replaced the brandy and resumed his seat beside Varian. "Hey, we got our escort back. How did they know it's us with so many other aircraft zipping around?"

"I'll remember to inquire. Lunzie says they can tell the difference between one of our sleds and those of the Mazer Star."

"No? Well, every motor has a distinctive sound to it, I'm told, even if they were manufactured in the same place, of identical components, but the signature usually only shows up on sophisticated monitors."

"Brains are still the ultimate in sophisticated computers. We got some on wings, that's all. Say, did you happen to notice if they tracked us up from the base camp?"

"It was dark when we left there, Varian, and we were kinda occupied... besides using different brains. I don't know what they think they're doing for us out there, but I kinda like seeing "em."

"So do I. And I'll be seeing a lot more of them in the next few days if I have my way."

Circumstances combined to thwart Varian's plans. Just as they reached the cliffs of the golden fliers, a squall broke over them and Varian had all she could do to wrestle the sled safely inside the cave. That put the skids on an immediate study of the giffs. Considerable progress had already been made to improve the amenities in the cave, including partitioned sleeping quarters at the back, tables, comfortable loungers and lighting near the hearth which had been augmented by cooking, cooling and disposal units. Bug-screens kept the insects at bay. Mindful of Sassiness' requirement, Varian forced a cassette on Portegin before he disappeared into the shuttle's pilot compartment to restore the console. When she asked Lunzie the whereabouts of the rest of the team, she received another check. As soon as Kai had finished his session with the diagnostic unit on board Captain Godheir's Mazer Star, he had drafted the assistance of a crew member who professed to be an amateur geologist and went off to seek Dimenon, Margit, and Tor.

"In that order," Lunzie said. "If the Thek let them land, considering their fascination with Iretan mineral deposits. Dimenon says they're just — squatting and gorging themselves. He swore six ways to Sunday that he can see the Thek growing."

"Then the diagnostic unit has a cure for Kai?"

"No, but it's much healthier for him to immerse himself in matters geological than sit about fretting and making mud maps," Lunzie replied crisply. "He's in a padded suit with skin-gloves. I've threatened Perens, that's Godheir's navigator, with grievous bodily harm if there's so much as one new welt on Kai's hide when they return. You ought to be glad that Kai's got a second wind."

"I am. I am. Where're Triv and Trizein?" She could snag the geologists later for their reports.

"They're off, too, in the four-man sled. Triv did promise Trizein, to go beast-hunting with him, you know. Now that he's fifty-eight Bonnard insists he's old enough to be a full team member so he went off with them. Terilla wanted to be their scribe, so I let her go, too. Don't wish to stretch Godheir's hospitality with fretful kids."

"Cleiti?"

"She's in the Mazer Star, helping Obir construct bunk beds for our sleeping quarters." Lunzie waved to the back of the cave. "Godheir is determined to arrange for as many comforts of home as possible. Everyone's the better for doing some light work to get muscles working again."

"Aulia?"

Lunzie's expression altered. "She..." and Lunzie wiggled one hand in a derisive gesture, "is recuperating from the shock of discovering herself time-stranded. I did point out that, when we got back to the ARCT-10, she'd look four decades younger than her contemporaries."

"Did that cheer her?"

"Not as much as Triv's reminder that all her bonus money has been collecting interest for forty-three years. She was demanding a transfer to the sanctuary of the cruiser until I mentioned that they were guarding the Heavyworld transport. Sure cured that notion. Now, I expect you'll want to be off stalking your bird friends. I'm going to catalog the local edibles and Divisti's pharmacopoeia in case they've other useful medical applications." Lunzie triumphantly hoisted the microscope loaned by the cruiser's science officer.

"Not until you've reported your version of our mutiny," and Varian stayed Lunzie's departure until she had tucked a disk in her chest pocket. "By the way," and Varian considered it only fair that she had a revelation to spring on Lunzie, "Commander Sassinak says she's your great-great-great-granddaughter."

As the series of emotions crossed the medic's usually well-schooled face, Varian wished she had a recorder handy. Shock, surprise, denial, consternation, and finally resignation marched across the woman's face. Then Lunzie blinked and displayed her usual composure.

"She could be, I suppose. My family tends to the services, and wandering."

"Did you know she was commander of the ZD-43?"

"No. How could I? She couldn't 've been when we went to sleep forty-three years ago. The cruiser was only just commissioned. I'd seen the announcement on the ARCT-10 which is why the designation fell so easily from my tongue when needed."

"She's invited us to dinner at the earliest opportunity."

"What sort of person is she?"

"Well..." and Varian maliciously delayed her assessment, "I think there's a distinct family resemblance... in manner."

Lunzie gave Varian a long shrewd look. "As Fleet commanders generally spread a good meal, and I'm getting bored with stews and simple Iretan fare, I accept."

"She sent this with her compliments." Varian handed over the square Sverulan brandy bottle.

"A discerning relative. I expect good things at her table."

"Lunzie!" Varian pointed at the tape in the medic's pocket.

"Yes, yes, I'll do that first. We'll broach the bottle tonight!" Then Lunzie, juggling microscope bottle and a tray of other supplies, made her way to the compartment that had been, two weeks ago, Trizein's laboratory.

Just as Varian dutifully sat down to speak her own report, she heard a sled enter the cave. Its single passenger, a short, chesty man with a round face wreathed in an expression of constant, surprised good humor, who waved cheerily to her.

He had come to present his apologies in person.

"I could have dropped down here any time the last fifteen years if I'd had any idea of your situation. When we got that Thek summons, I checked the computer banks right then. Your last contact with Vrl was logged all right enough but the Ryxi didn't attempt to raise your camp for another five months. The entry indicated no response, so it was assumed you'd been recovered by the ARCT-10." "Have you heard anything about the EV?"

"No, but that's nothing," Godheir assured her with a smile. "EVs don't have much cause to tell mercenary captains like me this, that, or twaddle. But," and he waggled a finger at her, his expression sincere, "that might be all to the good. I sure would have heard if an EV got itself lost. Mullah! They're still bitching about the LSTC-8 that tangled with that gas cloud last century. No news is good news, you know. And that cruiser'll get an update. Meanwhile, anything me and my crew can do... including a spot of bird-watching. Did their net act this morning — now that's a sight to see!"

"You didn't happen to record it, did you?"

"I sure did record it! Furthermore," and Godheir grinned broadly, "we got their attack on us, Lunzie's arrival, and all that to-do on a high-resolution tape. One of my crew's an amateur naturalist. You should see his tapes of the Ryxi — "

"Captain Godheir, your contract doesn't oblige you to disclose all activities to the Ryxi, does it?"

Godheir gave her the broadest possible wink. "We don't exactly converse with "em at all, which you will understand if you know the Ryxi — which I suspect you do or you wouldn't worry about "em — so don't worry about me or any of my crew babbling. Those Ryxi pay well, or you may be sure we wouldn't keep renewing the contract." He leaned across the table and patted Varian's shoulder reassuringly. "Now, you need anything me or my men can cobble up for you to get settled in? I got a few more items Lunzie requested. That nice little girl Cleiti's been helping us. Too bad she's so long separated from her folks."

"Cleiti's here?" Varian reached for another cassette.

"She's out in the cave, setting up the bunks."

Varian went out, followed by Godheir who assured her that Cleiti was only supervising as Obir was under strict orders to prevent her doing anything strenuous. And to be sure, Cleiti was perched on a stool of recent manufacture, listening to the comments of the garrulous "jack of all trades'. She rose when Varian appeared, with a brave, sad, little smile more poignant than tears would have been. Varian repressed a self-indulgent urge to hug Cleiti. Instead she explained the necessity for the report.

"I can do it while Obir's busy," Cleiti said, holding the cassette with curious awkwardness. "I'll have no trouble remembering everything exactly as it happened. After all, for me, it was only the week before last."

Varian managed to murmur something appropriate, catching Godheir's amused wink, as she turned away. Rain still lashed down and the screen of vine waved with erratic vitality in the squally winds. The vine should be cut down now, she thought. The screen's purpose had been accomplished. She wished hers could and Ireta's weather was frustrating. So... she'd work on that blasted report until the rain abated.

"You've probably got a lot to do, lassie," Godheir said, hearing her sigh of exasperation. He took a bulbous object from his thigh pocket and a small pouch from another. "I'll just blow a cloud of my own." Varian recognized the artifact as a tobacco pipe. "Not that I could smell anything in this atmosphere. Nor will I be polluting it!" He chuckled as he settled himself on another stool. "Half the pleasure of smoking a pipe is the smell of the tobacco."

"What's the other half?"

"The pure relaxation of fussing with a pipe."

Varian watched the process for a moment. "It looks complicated." Then she thanked him once again for all his courtesies. "Would you give me a shout when the rain stops, Captain?"

"My pleasure!"

It could have been imagination, but Varian did think, as she returned to the shuttle, that she could smell the aroma which rose from the captain's pipe.

As Varian organized her recollections of the events leading up to the mutiny, she envied Cleiti her innocence of the "week before last'. Varian made copious notes, additions, and changes until she was sure she had events in order. She made no comments, such as her initial suspicions about the heavyworlders' unsavory activities of that fateful rest day, for the mutiny was an undeniable fact, emphatically substantiated by the time gap between the two groups. She listened carefully to the replay of her report, aware that she could not erase now. She added a few brief explanations to her remarks. Then she strode to the shuttle iris and looked out toward the cave entrance.

Cleiti, Godheir, and Obir were seated in a companionable group about the fire, the captain's pipe still sending gray blue plumes of smoke to waft about in vagrant puffs of wind. No question of it, Varian thought. She could smell the tobacco above the usual pungency's. When she saw Varian, Cleiti brought over her cassette.

"Captain Godheir seems to know all about the mutiny, Varian," she said in a low voice, her eyes round with surprise. "Is it all right to talk about what happened? Or are details classified?"

"You can talk about it all you want, Cleiti," Varian replied, hoping discussion might restore the unnaturally subdued child to her former ebullience. Damn Paskutti and Tardma for the shock they had given the child: a shock undiminished in Cleiti's memories of the "week before last."

"Captain Godheir said he's never talked with a person who'd been mutinied before."

"It's not something that happens frequently, Cleiti. He's had our official report, but I think he might be interested in your reactions. But don't talk about it if you don't want to."

Cleiti considered pensively. Then, with a slightly less strained smile, added, "Yes, I think I'd like to tell the Captain and Obir. They both listen so politely. They say," and the smile betrayed a touch of Cleiti's old impishness, "that it's because I'm older than they are." She rejoined the men at the fire.

Varian was still muttering imprecations against the heavyworlders when Lunzie appeared with her record cassette.

"Isn't Cleiti abnormally quiet, Lunzie.?"

"All elements considered, not too much so. Part of it's due to the restoration, and part to delayed reaction. That's why I want to keep everyone as busy as possible. Gives "em less time to worry and think."

"Aulia?"

Lunzie snorted with derision. "Oh, she's busy, too. Feeling sorry for herself. She can make that into a full-time occupation. I expect Portegin will change her mind — if he ever surfaces from the shuttle's control panel. Varian, do you think you could get a specimen of the fringes from the giffs' eating rock?"

"D'you mean, would I oblige you or would I be able to? Because the giffs like me and someone else tried and failed?"

Lunzie twitched her nose.

"Well, he might have succeeded if he'd waited until the catch had been distributed. But they do know you. An analysis of fringe toxins would be invaluable in healing Kai's condition."

"I'll have to wait until this squall blows over."

"I was thinking that the squall would keep the giffs in their caves and this would be the safest time to collect fringe. Take the stairs to the surface."

"Stairs?" Varian stared in surprise.

"I told you Godheir was making us very comfortable," Lunzie pointed to the right side of the cave. "It's only a cage pole with foot rests but you can't get blown out of it and it gets you right to the top. Rather an improvement on swinging down vines, isn't it?" she added as she followed Varian to the new access way. "Godheir's drive mechanic, a man named Kenley, does amateur photography and bird-watching. He's also got a long-handled gripper, protective gloves, and a container for fringe samples. Topside!" Lunzie gestured with her thumb and grinned at Varian. "You are our resident expert on giffology."

"Never give a sucker an even break, huh?"

"Never. You need to be kept busy, too. And active."

"I'm just fine when I'm allowed to do what I came here for." Varian gave Lunzie a grin and then nimbly climbed the ladder, grateful for the cage as the wind still had some strength in it.

Kenley was waiting for her on the cliff top, lounging against his sled. He was parked not too far from the spot where Varian had first rested her sled that long-ago rest day. Kenley's force screen blocked most of the light rain and all the reemerging insects. He was slender, dark-skinned, dark-haired, and brown-eyed, with even, undistinguished features and a placid disposition. She shortly discovered in him a staunch advocate of the golden fliers.

"Were you the bold one who tried for the fringes the first time?" she asked, as she took the sample-collecting tools from him.

"Yep. Forgot the first rule of animal psychology. Never bother one that's eating. Fortunately I had my life belt and I pelted for the cave mighty fast. They were most annoyed with me "

Varian grinned and she noted that he had his belt on, his recording equipment was slung from a second belt. They had reached a spot just below the feeding rocks.

"You don't have to follow me but I'd appreciate it if you could record any giffs who drop by to investigate."

Kenley nodded as Varian arrayed the implements so as not to impede her climbing

"I'm going to ascend as far to the right of the feeding rock as I can, away from any edible food. The fringes get flipped to the far edge or into the chasm."

Both Varian and Kenley looked toward the giff cave, visible now that the rain had let up. There wasn't a giff in sight. Varian began to climb quickly, Kenley just behind her.

"Krims! Here they come!" Kenley warned her and she heard the whir of his recorder. "They got some perception. What do they use? Sonar? Radar? What?"

"I hope to find out. You're getting all that?" Varian said, keeping her eyes on the giffs winging through the drizzle.

They landed on the sea edge of the leading rock just as Varian reached the top. Several fringe carcasses, dried to brittle outlines, were inches from her boot. A meter away, two more feebly wavered. One was closed over, the other open.

"Hello!" Varian said in her most cheerful tone, holding her hands out to the giffs as she edged closer to her target. "I ought to have brought you some Rift grasses, but we haven't been there lately and I didn't think about it until just this moment. Actually, since what I want, is something you have no use for, I don't want to get you into the bad habit of expecting presents every time we meet. Is it all right if I just take one of these?" She had donned the gloves and opened the container as she spoke. Very slowly then, without taking her eyes from the giffs, she extended the long-handled grippers toward one of the semi-moribund fringes.

"Watch out!" Kenley's cry seemed to lend her impetus.

With considerable dexterity, she had managed to secure both fringes in the clasp of the gripper, whirling to hide her actions from the giffs as she beat a hasty retreat before their charge. "Did you get one? Krims! What are they doing now? Say, I don't think they were after you..."

Safe on the rocks below the feeding area, Varian paused long enough to thrust the fringes into the container while holding her breath against the stench of the things, before she looked to see what was exciting Kenley so much. Methodically the giffs were flicking every evidence of the fringes off into the chasm, as if deliberately clearing away a menace which they were not going to permit their visitors to handle.

"I got two!"

"I got it all down," cried Kenley. "They are quick! In the air or on the ground. Though I think you'd have to say they were semi-airborne when they came after you. You know, I think they were trying to keep me away from the fringes this morning — not away from the edible food."

Just then Varian and Kenley flinched away from the rock wall for the two giffs loomed above them, stern and chittering non-harmoniously. They spread their wings, flapping them as if to emphasize their remarks, then extended their heads down toward the two humans. The distance was too great for contact but Varian and Kenley ducked.

"Like kids to avoid a well deserved slap," Kenley said, grinning at Varian.

"Then let's pretend we're suitably punished and get the hell out of here."

Once back in the cave, the sample container turned over to Lunzie, Kenley regaled Varian with the spectacular record he had made of the giff attack on the Mazer Star's sled and the astonishing withdrawal as Lunzie's sled made its appearance and was escorted safely past the intruder. Unfortunately his footage of the feeding was marred by drizzle and haze. He hadn't thought to change tape or use an appropriate filter.

"I'll redo that record. Maybe with you, I can get closer."

"Better yet, we'll both follow the fishers tomorrow on their daily round. That's a sight to take. Fardles!" Varian snapped her fingers as she recalled that Sassinak awaited the reports. "Well, with any luck, I'll give the commander what she needs and be back in time to take you fishing. I want to show their high level of basic intelligence in that sort of a joint enterprise." She was recounting to the entranced Kenley the incident with the Three Giffs and her surmises when Kai returned with Dimenon and Margit.

Kai had not been able to locate Tor, nor indeed engage any of the Thek — large, small, or medium — in conversation.

"The silence of the Thek is profound," Kai remarked. He seemed more like his old self. "Maybe in a year or two, one will remember to forward my message."

"Kai would go up to a Thek, rap on the shell and say in a loud clear voice, "Speak?"' Dimenon was also in good spirits. He dangled both hands at chest level and then uttered a series of short barks, grinning with no apology for his whimsical behavior, "Require Tor response."

The geologists had little time for further conversation because Triv returned with Trizein, Bonnard, and Terilla. Trizein was so ecstatic about each and every new species that their expedition had sighted that he would break off describing one to cite the more fascinating specimen they had next encountered. Bonnard pretended to be weighted down by the film clips. Terilla waved a sheaf of drawings while Triv made for the hearth and some food. Varian waited until the first exuberance's had been expended before she explained the need for Sassiness' reports.

"But they're all dead, aren't they?" Terilla's expression mirrored her sudden fright and her voice held an unsteady quaver. Bonnard stepped to her side and put an arm about her.

"Tanegli's alive but he's very old and senile," Varian told Terilla with a reassuring smile.

"I wouldn't have thought the mutiny was the major issue now," Triv said, surprised at the disclaimers. "Well, how can it be? With a colony ship illegally landing — "

"Mutiny is always an issue," Kai said angrily. "Planetary piracy is more serious."

"That's because there's been more of that than mutiny," Portegin said, half joking.

"Far too much," Lunzie said, not at all amused. "Generally the Federation doesn't know of a take over unless dissidents among the pirates inform. Then it's too late."

"When is "too late" too late to punish criminal activity?" Kai demanded, obviously referring to the mutiny, not the piracy.

"The tribunal will decide that, Kai," Lunzie said more kindly. "The ramifications are far too complex for my understanding of the laws. But, Kai, wouldn't you say, that senility and the knowledge of the futile out come of forty-three years hard work constitute a punishment?" When she saw the obstinate set of Kai's features, she shrugged. "What about consoling yourself with the knowledge that you've been instrumental in preventing the illegal occupation?"

"Say, are there Federation rewards for hindering pirates?" Triv asked.

Despite a spate of cheering at this suggestion, no one had an answer.

"What sort of reward could buy back the time we've lost," Kai asked stiffly, "or health?"

Chapter TEN

After a dinner made lavish by the generosity of Commander Sassinak, Varian received a message from the cruiser, couched in the politest terms but nevertheless a firm request that Kai and Varian attend an important meeting on the cruiser at 0900. Kai was already asleep.

"Sleep he needs," Lunzie said quietly. "He expended a good deal of energy today which he didn't have, trying to find his Thek." She beckoned Varian down the corridor to her quarters, away from the partitioned section where Kai lay sleeping. "C'mon. Let's broach that brandy my discerning relative sent. This day has been a whozzer! Brandy'd go down a treat."

Varian was quite willing to indulge and followed Lunzie to her compartment, which was now quite comfortable. The microscope held the place of honor on the wide working desk, where neat piles of notes and slides testified to the good use Lunzie had made of her afternoon. A cot, more shelves, a recorder, a viewer, and two comfortable chairs completed the furnishings.

The brandy uncorked with a satisfactory schewack, and Lunzie muttered admiringly under her breath as the amber liquid gurgled into the glasses. She passed one to Varian, inhaling the bouquet from hers and then, with a rare smile on her face, settled into the other chair. She lifted her beaker to clink against Varian's.

"Here's to the gods that grew!"

"And here's to the soil that fed."

The brandy went down smoothly until it hit the bottom of her throat. Then Varian found herself gulping cooler air, her eyes about to pop her skull. Tears formed and then dispersed as the fine after taste began to spread through out her mouth and throat. Varian swore she could feel the nerves at the base of her spine untwist.

"That's some skull-pop!" Her voice was a respectful whisper.

"Indeed!" Lunzie seemed not to feel the same effect, sipping again while Varian regarded her portion with considerable respect. The warmth and relaxation continued to diffuse. Varian took another small mouthful, expecting the fiery result. Somehow the brandy was mellower. Or her throat was numb. "Sverulan as a planet," Lunzie went on, "has very little to recommend it other than the raw vegetable material that ferments into this brandy." She gestured toward her notes on the table. "I'm hoping that Divisti found something equally good. I can't imagine that the heavyworlders could have existed long on this place without some sort of a stimulant." She lifted her glass again.

"Lunzie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you know something you haven't told us?"

Lunzie's eyes met Varian's without hesitation or guile. "About Ireta? No. And certainly nothing about a planned piratical take over. That was completely fortuitous. If you refer to the opportune appearance of the ZD-43... Well, just as all elements of the Fleet have standing orders to pursue a leech when it appears on their sensors, so people like myself, on routine assignments," and Lunzie accorded Varian a droll grin, "have been primed to obstruct attempts at planet theft when ever and how ever possible. Don't know what more we could have done for Ireta than we did but..." Lunzie glanced reassuringly again at Varian, "I was not planted with this expedition any more than we were planted. And we weren't! I would have said Ireta was the least likely take over property. The heavyworlders must have been fairly desperate to stake a claim on a world that stinks as much as Ireta."

"The stink of transuranic riches must have smelled better."

"It's not like you to be cynical, Varian. Restore your faith in mankind by a close study of your giffs. They're worth the trouble it takes to preserve them. Remember, if this planet is thrown open, the Ryxi are just a short hop away — "

"Why would the planet be thrown open?" Apprehension over.whelmed Varian as she thought of the pompous, intolerant Ryxi.

"It's rich, that's why. There is already an established settlement with an immense grid to facilitate the landing of the heaviest ore freighters. Those heavyworlders in their transport will be given short shift and tossed back into space. But the tribunal might throw the rest of the planet open to competitive explorations, just to keep Aygar's group in order — that is, if the Thek are willing to for go their obvious prior claim to Ireta's wealth, staked with those old cores Kai has dug up. There is, however, a statute of limitations on how long an unworked claim remains the property of the original discoverers. That herd of Thek might well be the vanguard of Thek explorers. However, as xenobiologist, you'd do well to investigate the fringes. Two emerging species are better than one, even against a superior claim lodged by the Thek."

Varian felt a shudder of distaste and revulsion.

"Don't discount them," Lunzie said. "Predators can display intelligence, too, you know. Look at us! I grant you that the fringes don't have the intrinsic appeal of your giffs, but the more weight you can plump into your investigations, the more chance you have of protecting the giffs. If only by default." Lunzie took another sip of the brandy. "By the way, I accepted an invitation to dine with Sassinak tomorrow evening. You and Kai are included." Lunzie's expression turned serious again. "I'm hoping that Mayerd's more sophisticated diagnostic unit can analyze that fringe toxin and come up with a purge to flush the toxin out of Kai's system. And a nerve regenerator. Oh, the toxin will dissipate in time... but he's needed now, in proper working condition." To that Varian solemnly lifted her glass and drank. "I figure you'll just about make it to your bed before that brandy immobilizes you."

Lunzie proved correct, and the sound night's sleep improved Varian's out look. Her mind was clear and she felt able to combat — well, fang-faces, if necessary. Kai had more color in his face when he and Portegin joined her for breakfast, discussing priorities for Portegin's skills: the new core screen or completing repairs to the shuttle's damaged console.

"We've communications capability, and I can rig up a remote outside here," Portegin was saying. "It won't take me that much longer," then he turned with an apologetic grin to Varian, "though I do need a few more matrices and more weld-wire, two number-four — "

"Put it on a list!" Varian said with a mock resignation.

"I did," and there was nothing sheepish about the speed with which Portegin handed over his "few' requirements, "and then we can communicate directly with the ARCT-10 when, as, and if it makes its long overdue appearance."

"Dimenon and I want to know if the Thek really are squatting on the sites of the old cores. He remembers some of the coordinates but what we sank were so near to some of the older ones, we can't be sure unless we have a screen."

"Why would they go after theirs? It's more logical to go after ours, isn't it?" Portegin asked with some exasperation.

"Thek logic remains obscure to us poor mortals," Lunzie said, "but I'd prefer to be in communication with as many entities as possible... the ones that have the courtesy to answer."

Kai turned to Lunzie in considerable annoyance. "Can't you see, Lunzie, how important it might be for me to be here today? What can the cruiser's diagnostic unit do for me that Godheir's can't discuss with it?"

"Because we now have a sample of fringe to serve into the diagnostic unit, and Mayerd's a specialist in planetary exotic toxins, and the sooner we get the poison flushed out of your system, the sooner you can get out of that padded suit and operate on normal channels! Do I make myself plain? Besides," and she tossed her hand up, "Sassinak wants you there this morning at 0900. It won't take you that much longer to go through a diagnosis again, now

To that, Kai had to agree.

"Then let's go. Kai, will you be recorder for me?" Varian asked briskly as she looped the bag containing all the reports over her shoulder. "Then I can make use of the journey time." A little reminder to Kai that he wasn't the only one to have his plans altered might help. "If you could get our usual escort on tape," she said as they settled themselves in the battered two-man sled. "I really must see if the nose can be repaired."

With cautious and studied movements, Kai got into the sled and strapped himself in. His padded jumpsuit was of a softer than regulation fabric, padded on shin, thigh, calf, elbow and forearm, with skin-gloves, to prevent inadvertent injury. Then he pulled the recorder toward him to check its load and sighted for focus and available light. As he completed these preparations, Varian noticed that his eyes were deeply shadowed, a strange contrast to the white flesh about the puncture marks.

"Ready when you are!" he said.

Varian nodded and took the sled out of the cave into the still misty morning. The passage of the sled swirled the yellowish fog about and she used instruments rather than visual guidance in such a pea soup.

"So much for an out bound record," she said in disgust. "Nothing will filter that."

The telltagger sputtered. "Well, life-forms are coming in at seven o'clock," Kai said with a semblance of a grin. "You've got your escort."

"How do they see through this murk?"

"Why don't you ask them?"

"Funny fellow! When do I have the opportunity?"

"I know the feeling!"

Whatever tension had existed between them dissipated at this exchange. They traveled on in the murk, Kai silent in deference to the concentration Varian required to fly in such conditions. They had been airborne for over an hour when the mist began to disperse.

"Kai, why wouldn't Tor be here?"

"That has puzzled me. Especially since Tor took the trouble to rouse the Ryxi and get Godheir down here to help us."

"Isn't it unusual for so many Thek to gather?"

"Highly. I've never heard of it before. I wonder if Commander Sassinak would give me a little time on the cruiser's memory banks."

Varian grinned to herself. "She seems to wish to cooperate in anyway she can. Oh, turn that thing off," Varian added, for they were having to raise their voices to be heard above the telltagger. Kai flicked it off mid blip.

Just then they emerged from the mist into a brilliantly clear sunlit band, over tree-dotted plains; not too far from their original site. Varian craned her neck and saw the three escort giffs emerge from the fog, the sun gilding their fur.

"Why would Sassinak want us at a meeting?"

"I could think of half a hundred reasons."

"Maybe she's had a report about the ARCT-10 that she won't commit to a broadcast?"

Varian shot her companion a quick look but his face gave away no internal emotions. The fate of the ARCT-10 would be of primary importance to Kai: his family had been ship-bred for generations. The ARCT-10 was his home far more than any planet had ever been hers.

"Could be," she replied noncommittally. To dismiss the idea out of hand would be unkind, no matter how she wished to reassure Kai. "Sassiness' not the sort to sugar-coat a pill — "

"And she'd be aware of the morale factor for most of us."

"Kai, how long does an update take to reach a cruiser this far from a sector headquarters?"

Kai's breath hissed as he inhaled and then he gave her a slightly sheepish grin. "Not by this morning if the first asking was yesterday."

"And as Captain Godheir said, he'd've heard something if the ARCT-10 was known to be lost."

"Hmmmm."

"Scant reassurances I know, but a time when no news can be good news. Say, I haven't had a chance to tell you, but Sassinak is Lunzie's great-great-great-granddaughter!"

"No!"

"That was Sassiness' parting remark to me yesterday. Took me the entire flight back to get over the shock. To cushion the shock she sent Lunzie a bottle of Sverulan brandy." Varian gave Kai a very gentle nudge in the ribs. "Now, I know you don't appreciate planetary brews, but this stuff is gorgeous. Get on Lunzie's good side and she might just give you a sip — if she hasn't already finished the bottle on the sly. No, she couldn't have, no one could drink that much Sverulan brandy and function the next day!"

"I just can't imagine Lunzie as a mother."

"I can. She mothers us in her fashion. It's the ancestor part that stuns me. That original child is probably long since dead, and the next four generations as well, and here is Lunzie, motoring along in fine shape. And younger than Sassinak.

"Ship-breds like me don't usually run into this sort of anomaly."

"Ireta's full of them." All kinds, why not a human paradox! I wonder if Lunzie will ever tell us how long she's cold-slept. One thing, it hasn't affected her wits at all."

The patch of clear sky abruptly gave way to a fast-moving heavy squall and managing the sled took all Varian's attention. They rode it out and the weather cleared to lowering clouds scudding across the sky just as they reached the plateau, so Kai had a good view of the area. Varian came in above the grid so that Kai got the full effect of the two space vehicles, the smaller one, lean and dangerous, the other gross and brooding. From that vantage, Kai could also see the settlement, the foundry, and the unoccupied length of the grid.

"They meant to have more than one transport land here, didn't they?"

"It would appear so," she replied. "Krims! Aygar took Sassinak at her word." She pointed to the three sleds parked at the edge of the settlement and the people busy loading them. "They aren't wasting any time. I wonder where they're going."

Kai scowled. "They've been given transport?"

"They're just as entitled to replacement equipment as we are — "

"Mutineers may not profit — "

"Only Tanegli qualifies as a mutineer — "

"Those people are accessories to a conspiracy against FSP." Kai pointed agitatedly at the transport vessel.

"Yes, they are. They are the real criminals, Kai, not Aygar and his group."

"I don't understand your reasoning, Varian." Kai's face was strained. "How can you possibly take their side?"

"I'm not taking their side, Kai, but I can't help respecting people who've managed to survive Ireta and achieve that grid!" She banked the sled to laid it close to the open port of the Zaid-Dayan. "If only the ARCT had stripped the beacon, or kept its schedule with us."

"If", Kai said contemptuously.

"I'd cheerfully settle for a lousy "when", when we get you operational again. When we find out what the Thek are doing. When we find out what the tribunal thinks of all this..."

They landed and very cautiously Kai eased himself out of the sled. Varian made a show of checking the records in her shoulder bag. She couldn't watch the once agile, active young man reduced to the slow motion of the invalid. Then she picked up the container with the fringe samples Lunzie had frozen.

They were met at the portal by a very dark-skinned officer, lean and bouncy. This one wore the rank device of a lieutenant commander and the fourragere of an adjutant. He gave them a white-toothed smile before gesturing urgently over his shoulder for someone to hurry up.

"Fordeliton, Leaders Varian, Kai. Very pleased to meet you and at your service. We saw your sled approaching. And here is Mayerd."

The chief medic came bustling up, her eyes narrowing as she greeted Kai. Then she turned to Varian. "How's Portegin?"

"Constructing a core screen from that wealth of space matrices and units the commander supplied us with," Varian said. "I've a fringe sample for you."

"Just what I need." She took the sample case from Varian. "Kai, you go on with Fordeliton. I'll collect you when we've analyzed this information." Mayerd hurried off down the corridor.

"If you'll come with me," and Fordeliton gestured in the appropriate direction. "Portside at the next corridor junction, Varian. And that second door..."

Varian halted at the door which bore Fordeliton's name plate. "I thought we were to see Commander Sassinak."

"In a manner of speaking, you will. I don't think we will have missed anything. They'd only just been escorted in when I went to collect you," he said cryptically as he thumbed the catch on his door and motioned for Varian and Kai to precede him.

For a cruiser his quarters were unusually spacious. One wall contained terminal, displays, and auxiliary controls. The main view screen was operational and, to Varian's surprise, tuned to the commander's office and the meeting that was in progress.

"No, she's checking their papers. The commander said she would spin that out indefinitely until I had you here. If you'll be seated — " and he leaned over to touch a button. "There, she knows you're here. Yesterday we arrested them for landing illegally on an unopened planet. They protested that they had responded to an emergency distress call and merely homed on the beacon. Sassinak suggested this morning's meeting to discuss the irregularity. She wanted you both here for obvious reasons."

Eyes on the screen, Varian felt for the offered chair with fumbling hands. "She's not in there alone with them, is she?" she asked Fordeliton in a hushed voice, reacting unconsciously to the menace presented by the five heavyworlders perched implacably in front of Sassinak.

"That's a stun-wand the commander is handling so casually," Fordeliton wore an amused expression. "And there's a group of Wefts in marine uniform just beyond our view, plus of course, the usual sort of escort personnel."

"Wefts?" Kai was surprised. Wefts were enigmatic shape-changing morphs of unusual abilities. No humanoid of any variety had ever emerged victorious from combat against a Weft.

"Yes, as luck would have it, we've six groups with us this tour! The others are inside the transport, strategically deployed. In their own flesh."

Varian and Kai were both impressed and reassured. Varian released the arms of her chair and glanced quickly at Kai to see that he had cautiously splayed his fingers on his thighs, then she devoted her entire attention to Sassiness' performance on the screen.

As the commander read through the transport ship's documentation, she tapped the wand through her fingers repeatedly, mimicking a nervous habit.

Just beyond her desk sat the five heavyworlders, three men and two women with the massive physiques and broad, almost brutish features of their mutation. They wore soiled ship suits and the wide kidney belts that were the fashion of their kind. The dips and buckles were empty of the usual weaponry and tools. Varian tried to tell herself that the facial expressions were not hostile; it was simply that heavyworlders were not given to needless gestures or expressions even on planets with considerably less gravity than their own. Unfortunately, she could more clearly remember Paskutti and Tardma deliberately and enjoyably injuring her and Kai, and needlessly terrorizing two young girls. She could not muster impartiality or neutral detachment.

"Yes, yes, Captain Cruss," Sassinak was saying, her voice velvety smooth, and almost unctuous, "your papers do seem to be in order and one cannot fault your chivalry in diverting to investigate a distress call."

"It was not a distress call," Cruss said in a heavy, almost hollow voice. "It was a message sent by homing capsule to the ARCT-10. As I told you when your ship challenged me yesterday, we found the capsule drifting in space. It had been damaged beyond repair. We were able to play back the message. It was sent by Paskutti. The voice pattern matched that of one of our planetary explorers on contract assignment with the ARCT-10. We verified that he had not been heard of in over forty-three years. Naturally it was our duty to investigate."

"What disaster had overcome this Paskutti?"

"His base camp had been over run by stampeding herbivores of unusual size. He and five others had escaped with only their lives. Most of their equipment had been damaged beyond repair. A homing capsule is sturdy. It survived. He sent a message. The ARCT-10 did not receive the capsule for it was damaged just outside this solar system. Where we found it. I have brought it to show you."

With that Captain Cruss deposited a battered shell of metal on her desk with a courtesy that bordered on insolence. The homing capsule had long since lost its propulsion unit and the power pack so that it looked truncated as well as bent. The message core remained, scored and dinged. Sassinak wisely refrained from handling the heavy object.

"How under the seven suns did they manage to mess up a homing capsule like that?" Kai demanded under his breath.

"Heavyworld equipment for Heavyworld purposes," Fordeliton remarked cheerfully.

"And the message, of course, has been recorded in your computer banks," Sassinak stated.

"Can that be done, Kai?" asked Varian.

"Not easily," Fordeliton replied. "It would depend on how the message was recorded. If our suspicion is correct and there is a broad conspiracy among all the heavyworlders to take whatever opportunities present themselves, then Paskutti would have constructed the message so that anyone could extract it. Sssh."

"You are welcome to extract that message from our computer, Commander," Cruss replied.

"Providential that such a capsule was available to this Paskutti. Possibly the battering it received during the stampede caused its subsequent malfunction.

"You have acted properly, as FSP expects a civilian ship to do when a distress message appears out of the black. However, Captain Cruss, that act of charity does not detract from the fact that this planet is clearly cataloged as unexplored in my computer banks and, as such, not released even for limited colonization. You must understand that I am bound to adhere to FSP strictures in such an instance by standing orders. I have sent a direct signal to Sector Headquarters and no doubt I shall receive orders shortly. Since this is an exceedingly hostile and dangerous world," and Sassinak permitted herself a delicate shudder, "I must require you, your officers, and any passengers not in cryogenic suspension to remain aboard your vessel — "

Captain Cruss rose from his chair. So did his companions. Sassinak neither flinched nor quivered as the heavyworlders dwarfed her at her desk.

"Actually," she continued in her conversational tone of voice, "the shipwrecked personnel seem to have done extremely well in adapting to the hostile environment, even to the commendable work of engineering a grid for their eventual rescue by a passing friendly ship. Most ingenious of them. However, I understand that they would be willing to supply you with fresh vegetable protein and fruit if you desire a change from long-voyage rations. In return, of course, for the usual items of barter." She smiled. "I hope your water supplies are adequate. The local water is foul-tasting and smells." With a surly growl and a dismissive flick of his vast hand, Captain Cruss indicated he needed no replenishments. "Very well, then. I'm positive you will wish to continue on your way as soon as we have received clearance for you. The indigenes will have all the help we can give them. You may be sure of that." Sassinak rose then, to signify the end of the interview. Varian noticed that she held the wand in her right hand, tapping it carelessly against the palm of the left. When Cruss made a motion to reclaim the capsule, she lowered the wand to forestall the attempt, not quite touching his wrist.

"I think that had better remain. Sector will wish to discover why it did not reach its intended destination. Can't have our emergency devices malfunctioning." What Cruss might have done, Varian didn't know but abruptly Wefts appeared, one by each of the heavyworlders. Varian noted with pleasure that the usual heavyworlder sneers quickly altered to alarm. Cruss wheeled and stamped out. The others followed and the escort closed in behind them.

As soon as the door had slid shut, Sassinak swiveled her chair and looked directly at them. Fordeliton made an adjustment on the console and Sassinak smiled.

"Did you two catch the entire act?" She raised one hand to massage her neck muscles.

"Your timing was as usual superb, commander," Fordeliton said.

"They had the contingencies covered, all right enough, including documentation to that heavyworlder colony two systems down. Unless I am mistaken, and I want you to check it out, Ford, that world has reached its colonial quota. Varian, were all your records destroyed?"

"If you mean, do we have the homing capsule serial number on file, yes, it's probably in the shuttle's memory banks. We can retrieve it once Portegin has the shuttle's console fully operational. But that capsule was stolen from our stores before the stampede..."

"Did you mention that fact in the report I hope you have for me?"

"I did — " Varian glanced at Kai for his answer.

"I did, too. Commander?"

"Yes?"

"Do you believe that they detoured here to answer a shipwreck message?"

"I would have had no reason to doubt it, would I, if you weren't alive to give a conflicting account. They have, I do believe," and Sassiness' smile was smugly malicious, "hoisted themselves on their own petards in this case since you can prove the complicity. They don't know that you lived — "

"Aygar does." Kai's voice was harsh.

"Do you think we've allowed Aygar and his friends to communicate with the colonists? Come, come, Leader Kai. I shall permit no intercourse between the two groups, and the surviving mutineer is in maximum security on this vessel. Would he recognize you?"

Varian answered. "When I encountered Tanegli, at first he thought I was from the colony ship. When I told him that I was part of a rescue team, he couldn't wait to get rid of me. On the other hand, he wouldn't be expecting to see Varian. For him a long time has elapsed."

"Yes, so it has," Sassinak mused, a slight smile on her face. "It really doesn't do for the heavyworlders to get so arrogant and presumptuous with us lightweights, does it?" Sassinak leaned forward, her expression sad. "The irony of these instances is that those who struggled to pave a way would have found themselves discarded by such as Cruss, cast away entirely, once their purpose had been served — I wonder if Tanegli and his fellow mutineers ever considered that possibility. Of course," and a complacent smile bowed the commander's mouth, "your survival is as unexpected as my arrival. Not to mention the interest the Thek are evincing in Ireta — can you explain that for me, Kai?"

"No, Commander. I haven't been able to get any of them to speak to me. My personal contact, the one called Tor, is not among them. May I have access to your computer on the subject of Thek? I want to check other occurrences of such numbers descending on a planet. They seem to be settling on the points where: we discovered existing cores."

"Existing cores?" Sassinak was surprised. "According to Fleet records, this planet has never been explored."

"That was our understanding, too, Commander." Kai's tone was dry. "Nevertheless, my geology team found cores of extreme antiquity in place."

"Fascinating. I can only hope that we shall be enlightened in due course."

"Commander Sassinak," Kai began more formally, "does your presence here constitute the relief of the ARCT-10 expeditionary team?"

"How could it, my dear Kai?" Sassinak grinned. "I didn't know you existed. My jurisdiction begins and ends with that transport out there. You were, and still are, an authorized exploration team to Ireta. As Varian has reminded me, that makes you both governors pro-tem on Ireta. Since your EV has not collected you in the time allotted for your explorations, in FSP law that makes you shipwrecked-stranded, if you prefer. And it is standard Fleet procedure to give all aid and assistance to stranded personnel. Have I made my position plain?"

"Indeed, you have."

"Will I see you both at dinner this evening?"

"You will, Commander, and our thanks for the invitation."

"It isn't often that representatives of two generations four times removed get a chance to meet, is it? Even in this crazy universe!" Sassinak was smiling as she broke the connection.

"Do you need any supplies urgently, Governors?" Fordeliton asked with a grin. Kai and Varian tendered their lists." Good, then, I can escort Kai to Mayerd's clutches and take Varian on to the quartermaster. Mayerd's very good, you know," Fordeliton went on easily as he preceded them through the confusing maze of corridors. "Loves nothing better than a medical puzzle. So much space medicine is fairly cut and dried — if you'll forgive the puns. She's always writing obscure essays for the Space Medical Journal. This is our first planetfall in four months. Too bad the planet stinks so. We could use shore leave."

"The first forty years are the hardest," Kai remarked.

Fordeliton paused before the sick-bay entrance and Kai, with a grimace, waved them a jaunty farewell.

Chapter ELEVEN

Varian and Fordeliton had swung down the corridor toward the quartermaster section when Aygar and two of the group from the camp meeting came down another access hall. Aygar gave Varian only a curt nod of acknowledgment. All three wore the brief Iretan costume adopted by the native-born, now enhanced by forcebelts, stunners, and clips. Varian decided the Iretans were really much more attractive as human derivatives than the Heavyworld adaptations.

After she had filled her list, with the exception of the nose plugs which the quartermaster felt would be her most pressing need, Varian was asking for help to convey her booty to the sled, when Fordeliton's caller sounded.

"A moment, Varian, this concerns you, too. Commander Sassiness' compliments, and can we join her immediately? Crewman, secure those supplies in Governor Varian's sled."

Varian was surprised to find Kai, the medic Mayerd, and Florasse, Tanegli's daughter — whom she had met when barriered as Rianav. While she was being introduced, Aygar was admitted.

Then the commander activated the main screen. "This report has just arrived from the southwest, from the geologist Dimenon. He thought we should know about this development."

"That's the site of Dimenon's last strike," Kai said when he recognized the terrain.

"And the current habitat of twenty-three small Thek if my tally is correct," Sassinak added with wayward amusement. "Now watch the edges of the picture,"

Even as she spoke, Kai let out an inadvertent gasp of horror and revulsion. He held both hands out in front of him as the fringes advanced in their inimitable close-stretch propulsion, heading directly toward the sedentary Thek.

"Those critters are in for a big surprise, Governor," Sassinak remarked.

Nonetheless, Kai sucked in his breath and arched his body backward, as the first fringe spread to envelop a Thek. Varian was not the only one more interested in Kai's reactions than what was occurring on the screen. Mayerd was discreetly watching him. The fringe had been attracted by a lethal entity, for its sides began to melt and, before the creature could desist, it had been reduced to its crumpled cartilaginous framework. The other fringes met the same rate. Then, as the fascinated observers watched, fringes that had not deployed on their intended victims began to slow their advance, and came to fluttering halts.

"Varian, have you done much investigation of these — what did you call them, Aygar?" Sassinak asked.

"Fringes." Aygar's single word broke Kai's transfixed gaze from the screen to the Iretan's presence.

"Young Terilla named them that," Kai said in a flat cold voice, turning away from Aygar.

The big Iretan made no comment, inclining his head briefly. "Whatever those black pyramids are — "

"Thek!" Kai was almost surly.

"The fringes have met their match, then, in these Thek. Do they generate much heat?"

"Yes."

"What was it you told me, Kai?" Mayerd said into the awkward pause after Kai's response. "The Thek are gorging themselves on raw Iretan energy?"

Kai nodded curtly.

"Were we told about Thek, Florasse?" Aygar asked.

The woman shook her head slowly, her eyes never leaving the screen. "They are not of this world, Aygar, so why would we have needed to know." Florasse's voice held overtones of betrayed trust and disillusionment, enough to make Kai regard her with surprise.

"What interest do the Thek have on my world?" Aygar asked, his glance sliding from Kai's closed expression to Varian.

"We would feel easier, Aygar," Sassinak answered him, "if we ourselves knew. The Thek are a long-lived race who keep their own counsel, vouch safing to us poor ephemera's only such information as they consider us worthy to receive."

"They are your supreme rulers?"

"By no means! They are, however, a vital force in the Federated Sentient Planets. One does not — as you just saw — meddle with a Thek with impunity. What is germane to us right now is the question, what do you native Iretans know about the fringes?"

"To stay away from them." Aygar's glance flickered to Kai.

"And?" Sassinak prompted him.

"They are attracted by body heat and envelop their prey, clasping the digits midsection to secure it. Then they consume their victim with a digestive juice. The shipsuit you were wearing saved your life," Aygar remarked to Kai. "Fringes have trouble digesting synthetic fibers."

"What weapon do you use to protect yourselves against the creatures?" Sassinak asked.

"We run" — and Varian was certain now that the powerful young man was possessed by a fine sense of humor — "as we possess no effective weapons against the fringes. A few Thek posted about would be ideal deterrents."

Fordeliton coughed aloud and even Sassinak looked a trifle surprised at Aygar's irreverent suggestion.

"Is fire effective?"

Aygar shrugged. "I've never seen them melt before, nor have we had any liquid flame to use. So far they have not penetrated to this plateau."

Sassinak turned back to the final frame on the screen: the fringes retreating from the Thek.

"We observed aquatic fringes before we went cryo," Varian said, "but no evidence at all of communication between the species. Perhaps the land fringes are further along in evolution." She shuddered. "I don't like even to think what they could do in cooperation. The aquatic ones are considerably smaller. Oh, and the golden fliers keep well away from them, too."

"Fringes in the sea?" Aygar swung toward Varian, with a puzzled frown.

"Yes, our chemist ran some tests on fringe tissue. They're one of the many anomalies this planet presented us. A life-form with a cellular development completely different from that of the dinosaurs — "

"Dinosaurs?" Fordeliton erupted in surprise.

"Yes, it's all in my report," Varian said. "Tyrannosaurus rex — I called him fang-face — hadrosaurs of all varieties, crested, helmeted, hyracotherium, pteranodons which I call golden fliers, or giffs — "

"But that's preposterous," Fordeliton began.

"That's what Trizein said. He's an amateur Mesozoic naturalist — "

"Do you have dinosaurs on this plateau?" Fordeliton eagerly demanded of Aygar.

"No. We picked the plateau as our settlement because it is mercifully devoid of the large life-forms," Aygar said. "We avoid the dinosaurs as we do the fringes. Especially the golden fliers." He glanced at Varian.

"The giffs are harmless," Varian said stoutly.

Aygar's eyebrows lifted slightly in an expression of doubt, a doubt which Florasse seconded.

"There's obviously a great deal of information to be shared," Sassinak said, firmly regaining control of the meeting. "And considerable reason for you all," and her gesture made one group of them, "to cooperate." I estimate you have a week, two weeks at the outside before I receive orders, either from my Sector or the tribunal. As I have mentioned before, any ship of the Fleet encountering shipwrecked survivors is required to render whatever reasonable assistance is requested. We'll ignore that — " and she jerked her thumb in the direction of the heavyworlder transport, "complication for the nonce. My ship has been on tour for four months and my crew could use some shore leave, even on a planet that smells as bad as this one. Many of them have technical avocations — geology, botany, metallurgy, agronomy. There are analysts of all persuasions." She extended one print out sheet to Kai and one to Aygar. " I'm sure that we can arrange duty rosters for anyone you think would be helpful, Governor. My people would make up in enthusiasm what they might lack in expertise." Kai took the sheet from her but Aygar remained stolidly regarding Sassinak. With a hint of testiness, she rattled the sheet at him. "You have a perfect right to be suspicious of gratuitous offers of assistance, young man, but do not be stupid. You have as much to lose or gain as these people. You may not realize it but my profession is to protect life in all its myriad and mysterious forms. Not destroy it."

Florasse stirred restlessly, her hand twitching, but just then Aygar stepped forward and took the list with another of his stiff nods.

"For my information, I would very much appreciate a report from you Iretans on the life-forms you have encountered. Thank you for your attention." She rose, signifying an end to the meeting, her glance indicating that Varian and Kai should remain. "Now," she said when the door had slid shut again, "any luck with your investigations, Mayerd?"

"Too soon to tell."

"What? Your pet diagnostic let you down?"

"My unit has a great deal to chuckle over, but it has confirmed the interim medication that the Mazer Star recommended. We'll soon have a more exhaustive report." She sounded confident.

"Can I get back to my team, then?" Kai's expression was unusually set.

"Only if you'll take Fordeliton with you. He's a devoted dinosaur buff."

"There must be some mistake," Fordeliton said, his words bursting forth.

"Not according to Trizein. Our chemist is also a dinosaur buff," Varian replied. "Geologically, this planet is stuck in the Mesozoic."

"There is no way, my dear Varian, that Ireta could evolve creatures similar to the monsters that roamed the planet Earth millions of years ago."

"We're well aware of that improbability, Commander," Varian assured him with a rueful grin, "but that's what we've got and Trizein verifies it. It's all in our reports."

"I can see that I'm going to have to pay those reports considerable attention. I was going to have Ford do it for me," Sassiness' face made a moue of resignation, "but I can't in conscience keep him cooling his heels here if those beasties really are out there. Don't we have other naturalists on the list, Ford?"

"Yes, ma'am — Maxnil, Crilsoff, and Pendelman. Anstel as well, but he's on watch."

"They're not essential crew, are they? No. Would you care for some passengers back to that eyrie of yours, Governors?" When she received an eager affirmative from Varian, she nodded to Fordeliton. "See to it, will you, Ford. You may have transport and you'd best take supplies. Keep in touch. Now, all, shake a leg out of here." She picked up the first of the report cassettes and slid it into the replay slot on her console. "I've got a lot of reading to do." She flicked her hand at them.

Almost like children released from a tiresome class, they left. Fordeliton's excitement was palpable.

"Look, I'll get Maxnil, Crilsoff, and Pendelman, raid the galley and the recorder stores, and follow. Okay?"

"Would you have time, and the space, to take one or two of the geology people?" Kai asked.

"Sure, sure." Fordeliton craned his neck to see the list in Kai's hand. "Baker, Bullo, and Macud are good, and they work hard. They're off-duty right now so they'll be bored and easily persuaded to accompany me." Fordeliton grinned. "No problem. Don't want to inundate you but you've no idea what a treat this is."

By this time, they had reached the air lock. Varian had a clear view of the sky and saw the departure of three sleds from the Iretans' settlement, heading southeast. She wondered if they were going to consolidate their position on the first campsite which they had abandoned. She looked quickly to see if Kai had noticed the sleds but he was discussing supplies with Fordeliton.

"If you have any telltaggers in your stores, you might want to mount one on your sled," Varian suggested to Fordeliton.

"We have. I will. I'll follow as soon as I assemble the men."

Chapter TWELVE

Fortunately Fordeliton gave them a few minutes advance warning of his arrival, which allowed Varian just enough time to become airborne and prevent the cruiser's sled from being attacked. Fordeliton was tremendously excited by the variety of creatures he had seen on his way to the giff cliffs. When Varian guided him into the cave, he was enraptured by the giffs themselves and his companions — Maxnil, Crilsoff, and Pendelman — were equally thrilled.

"Now that I have you here, I'm not quite sure what to do with you," Varian said truthfully. "Trizein is out with young Bonnard and Terilla — "

"Could we join them?" Fordeliton was all eagerness.

"There's not much point in duplicating effort. What sort of speed and range does your sled have?" Varian asked as she rummaged for a sketch map of the main continent of Ireta which Kai had made the previous evening.

"Fleet standard, supersonic."

"Really? You wouldn't mind working up in the polar region, would you? We hadn't penetrated that far. Your sled could function in high temperatures?"

"Of course!"

"Well, now," Varian ,pointed to the northern polar area. "I'd rather like to know if there are variations of these critters that have adapted to the intense heat."

"I'll just put this map through the scan, and we'll be off to do a reconnaissance."